AIM: To observe the effect of respiratory muscle gymnastics on lung function and quality of life in the old patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Eighty-nine COPD stable patients were randomly divided into two groups: respiratory muscle gymnastics (A group, n = 45) and non respiratory muscle gymnastics (B group, n = 44). Patients in A group were teached methods of respiratory muscle gymnastics (retract lips, abdominal breathing and respiratory muscle gymnastics) by the special physician and regular follow-up. The indexes to lung function (forced expiration volume(FEV1), the value of FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) %), blood gas analysis marker PaO2, PaCO2 and quality of life were measured at the beginning and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: By 6 months after treatment, compared of two group showed significant differences in lung function (FEV1, FEV1/FVC% and PaCO2 1.8 +/- 0.7 L, 69.5 +/- 12.1% and 5.4 +/- 0.4 kPa in group A; 1.5 +/- 0.6 L, 56.4 +/- 11.5%, and 7.0 +/- 0.7 kPa in group B; t = 2.47, 2.38 and 2.56, p < 0.05), PaO2 (11.5 +/- 0.8 kPa in group A; 8.5 +/- 0.9 kPa in group B; t = 3.54, p < 0.01) had very significant differences. The scores of quality of life in two group showed significant differences (divided into F1, F2, F3 and F4 were 2.10 +/- 0.26, 2.18 +/- 0.28, 2.11 +/- 0.23, 2.09 +/- 0.25, 2.26 +/- 0.29 in group A; 2.37 +/- 0.34, 2.31 +/- 0.30, 2.32 +/- 0.32, 2.41 +/- 0.35, 2.46 +/- 0.38 in group B; t = 2.41, 2.52, 2.39, 2.62, 2.35, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The lung function of ventilation and quality of life of in the old patients with COPD can be significantly improved by respiratory muscle gymnastics.

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