BACKGROUND: Training therapy with its manifold effects should be part of a modern and multi modular treatment of the COPD. Because of the specific symptoms (eg, muscle atrophy, dyspnea, low testosterone levels) and the deconditioning of these patients, a resistance training might meet the demands of a COPD-exercise-therapy rather than an endurance training. The aim of this research project was to evaluate the efficiency of a hypertrophic maximal strength training on various COPD relevant parameters. METHODS: 28 patients with moderate to severe COPD (m12/f16) were randomized and divided in a treatment and a control group. The patients in the treatment group underwent a resistance training (hypertrophic maximal strength training) for 12 weeks, initially two times, then three times a week. RESULTS: Considering the results of the daily Peak-Flow-Measurement, there was no significant change in both groups, but a trend towards an improvement could be found in the treatment group. There was no difference in the change of FEV1. The performance on the ergo cycle showed a highly significant improvement (p < 0.001) in the treatment group of 18.7% (21.9 Watt). The results of the SGRQ showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) of the HRQL in the treatment group. A change of the HRQL in the control group was not found. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypotheses that a short term high intensity strength training programme is suitable to improve performance measures of patients with moderate to severe COPD and it might also improve pulmonary function. The conclusion can be drawn, that this kind of resistance training can be prefered as COPD-specific training therapy and offers new treatment perspectives.

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