Background: The optimal training mode for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has not been defined.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate cardiopulmonary function before and after endurance (ET) or resistance training (RT) for 6 months.
Methods: Twenty physically active adult patients (8 females) with classic CF were enrolled for ET or RT for 3 months followed by 3 months of mixed training. Training was recorded by telemetry and in diaries and lasted 30-45 min, three times a week. Lung function and peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)) were measured. Mean +/- SD predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1) %) was 91 +/- 21%; maximal workload (W) was 170 +/- 31 in females and 273 +/- 54 in males.
Results: Nineteen patients completed the program, 3 at a lower and 1 at a higher training frequency than required. Maximal heart rate remained unchanged during the 6 months. Maximal VO(2)(liters x min(-1)) was significantly correlated to FEV(1) in males at baseline and 6 months (p = 0.006 and p = 0.04, respectively). Changes in maximal workload and maximal VO(2) improved significantly with ET compared with RT.
Conclusions: Physically active CF patients preserve good cardiopulmonary function into adulthood. The controlled training program did not lead to further improvement although ET induced larger changes than RT.
(c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.