Adherence
A three-month supervised Nordic Walking program significantly increases daily physical activity (walking and standing time) and functional exercise capacity (6MWD) in COPD patients, with benefits sustained for at least six months post-intervention.
If you have COPD, try Nordic Walking (walking with poles) three times a week for one hour. Aim for 75% of your max heart rate, but adjust your speed if you get breathless. This specific type of walking has been shown to increase your daily walking and standing time and improve your ability to walk longer distances, with benefits lasting even after the supervised program ends. It is a safe, accessible way to break the cycle of inactivity.
After three month training period, in the Nordic Walking group time spent walking and standing as well as intensity of walking increased... while time spent sitting decreased... Furthermore, 6MWD significantly increased... These significant improvements were sustained six and nine months after baseline.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with a control group, clear endpoints, and statistically significant results (p < 0.01), though sample size is moderate (n=60).
Source
Nordic Walking improves daily physical activities in COPD: a randomised controlled trial
Marie‐Kathrin Breyer et al. · Respiratory Research · 2010
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