Comparison Of Tai-Chi And Pulmonary Rehabilitation Combined With Indercaterol In Management Of Patients With COPD

Background: Exercise capacity and quality of life in patient with COPD could be improved by traditional pulmonary rehabilitation.However,some remote areas may be shortage of exercise facility including equipment which impairs the usefulness of exercise.Tai chi,an ancient Chinese exercise modality,independs on special facility including equipment,has been becoming popular among Chinese elderly people.Few randomized studies have been performed to assess the difference in management of COPD between traditional pulmonary rehabilitation and Tai Chi.In this study,Tai Chi combined with Indercaterol was compared with traditional pulmonary combined with Indercatrol in assessment of lower limb muscle strength,6 minute walking distance and dyspnea scores in patients with COPD.Method:120 stable COPD patients were recruited from Guangdong Xingning,a remote rural area.All patients were initially received Inderterol(150 ug,qd)for 2 weeks,then divided randomly to Tai chi group or traditional PR group,who were attend either pulmonary rehabilitation(three times per week,one hour for each time)or Tai Chi(five times per week,at least one hour for each time)for 12 weeks combining with inhalation of Indacaterol(150ug,qd).Six minutes walk distance(6MWT),quadriceps muscle strength(QMVC),fat-free Mass I(FFMI),dyspnea scores(m MRC)were compared in the two groups after 12 weeks exercise..Result: 110 patients completed the study.After treatment of indacaterol combined with exercise training for 12 weeks,6MWT,QMVC and m MRC improved significantly for both groups.However,no significant difference in improvement was found between two groups(TC vs PR),QMVC,3.8±5.6kg vs 4.9±4.3 kg(p=0.373);6MWT,19.2±30 vs 23.1±31.3(p=0.758);m MRC,-0.44±0.57 vs-0.57±0.54(p=0.654);FFMI changed-0.02±0.23 vs 0.09±0.33(p=0.446).Conclusion: Tai Chi in improvement in exercise capacity,lower limb strength and dyspnea is similar to PR.Tai-Chi could replace PR in the treatment of COPD.