Thirty-six patients with severe disability due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) completed a three-week exercise programme carried out in hospital. Maximum exercise capacity and the total work accomplished during a treadmill exercise test more than doubled (p < 0.001) compared with measurements obtained at the end of an initial three-week control period. Six months afterthe end of the exercise programme both maximum exercise capacity and total work had declined, but were still significantly (p < 0.001) above control values.
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