Effect of upper limb exercise and 10 minutes tread mill training on improving the autonomic nervous control in COPD patients

INTRODUCTION: The common disease entity of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD is defined as a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually both progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particle or gases GOLD, 2001. COPD is characterized by reduced maximum expiratory flow and slow forced emptying of lungs which is slowly progressive and mostly irreversible to present medical treatment ERS, 1995. The impairment of lung function is largely fixed but is partially reversible by bronchodilator or other therapy BTS,1997.COPD is largely preventable Huib,1999. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. For patients with COPD, degradation in lung function is progressive, leading to premature disability and death. As the lung function decreases, the ability to engage in activities of daily living decreases, and thus the quality of life is impaired. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the effect of upper limb exercises along with treadmill training on heart rate and spo2 among copd subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Pre test and post test experimental study. METHODOLOGY: Subjects were assigned into two groups with 15 in GROUP A and 15 in GROUP B. The GROUP A subjects underwent for conventional therapy such as diaphragmatic breathing exercise and chest mobility exercise, while GROUP B underwent upper limb exercises and treadmill training along with conventional therapy. Treadmill training is for 10 minutes daily, lasted for 8 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Heart rate and SPO2 were measured by using pulsoximeter. RESULTS: The data were analysed using independent and paired t test at 5%level of significance. There was significant difference between the groups in all the outcome measures. There was significant improvement on heart rate and SPO2 in both groups, but the mean shows that GROUP B has more improvement than GROUP A. CONCLUSION: The study reveal that there is significant improvement in heart rate and spo2 on subject who underwent upper limb exercises along with treadmill training