Enhancing Muscle Function After Exacerbations of COPD to Limit Its Impact on Physical Activity Decline

Patients with COPD lose muscle strength during acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) which interferes improving the recovery of physical activity (PA) after an AECOPD. Resistance training can reverse this process. An exercise training program with the focus on resistance training is essential in minimizing the long-term effects of AECOPD as it may help to accelerate the gain in PA in the weeks after an acute event. Therefore, it is important that such programs are embedded at the right moment (i.e. immediately after an AECOPD) and in a setting accessible to the patient (i.e. primary care). The efficacy and effectiveness of implementing such training programs will be assessed in the present study.