Medical Science
Volume 24, Issue 103, May - June, 2020
Impacts of intermittent aerobic exercise on depressive disorder and respiratory functions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: 10-week prospective clinical study
Walid Kamal Abdelbasset1,2♦, Saud F. Alsubaie1, Eman Yassen2
1Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz
University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
2Department of Physical Therapy, Kasr Al-Aini Hospital, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
♦Corresponding author
Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation,
College of Applied Medical Sciences,
Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia;
Email: walidkamal.wr@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Depression is a common community-health problem among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Rare
studies have evaluated the effects of intermittent aerobic exercise on depression status in patients with COPD. Therefore, this study
aims to identify the short-term effects of intermittent aerobic exercise on depression status and respiratory functions in patients with
COPD. Forty-two patients with moderate COPD (50%≤ FEV1 <80% predicted) were included in this prospective experimental study.
The mean of their age was 48.4±7.5 years. All patients were complaining of mild and moderate depression. Randomly, the patients
were assigned into two groups, 21 in each group. The first group was recruited to intermittent aerobic exercise, 40 min/session, 4
sessions per week for 10 weeks (intermittent group). The second group did not receive an exercise program during the study period
(conventional group). Depression status and spirometry assessments were performed. After the intervention the depression status
and respiratory functions were significantly improved in the intermittent group (p˂0.05) while the conventional group showed nonsignificant
changes in any parameters of the outcome measures (p˃0.05). Changes in the intermittent group were significantly
different from the conventional group (p<0.05). 10-week intermittent aerobic exercise reduces depression status and improves
respiratory functions in patients with moderate COPD. Intermittent aerobic exercise should be recommended in the rehabilitation
program of COPD, especially depressed patients.
Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, intermittent aerobic exercise, depression status, Spirometry test.
Medical Science, 2020, 24(103), 1656-1662
