A subgroup analysis reported significant differences in the promotion of physical activity based on baseline physical activity levels and the type of instrument used to assess levels of physical activity .
The effects of a physical activity counseling program after an exacerbation in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a randomized controlled pilot study
Background In some patients with COPD , the disease is characterized by exacerbations . Severe exacerbations warrant a hospitalization , with prolonged detrimental effects on physical activity . Interventions after an exacerbation may improve physical activity , with longst and ing health benefits . Physical activity counseling and real-time feedback were effective in stable COPD . No evidence is available on the use of this therapeutic modality in patients after a COPD exacerbation . Methods Thirty patients were r and omly assigned to  usual care or physical activity counseling  , by telephone contacts at a frequency of 3 times a week and real-time feedback . Lung function , peripheral muscle strength , functional exercise capacity , symptom experience and COPD -related health status were assessed during hospital stay and 1 month later . Results Both groups significantly recovered in physical activity ( PAsteps : control group : 1013 ± 1275 steps vs intervention group : 984 ± 1208 steps ( p = 0.0005 ) ; PAwalk : control group : 13 ± 14 min vs intervention group : 13 ± 16 min ( p = 0.0002 ) ) , functional exercise capacity ( control group : 64 ± 59 m ( p = 0.002 ) vs intervention group : 67 ± 84 m ( p = 0.02 ) ) and COPD -related health status ( CAT : control group : −5 [ −7 to 1 ] ( p = 0.02 ) vs intervention group : −3 [ −10 to 1 ] points ( p = 0.03 ) ) . No differences between groups were observed . Conclusion From our pilot study , we concluded that telephone based physical activity counseling with pedometer feedback after an exacerbation did not result in better improvements in physical activity and clinical outcomes compared to usual care . Because of the difficult recruitment and the negative intermediate analyses , this study was not continued . Trial registration Clinical trials.gov NCT02223962 . Registered 4 September 2013
A subgroup analysis reported significant differences in the promotion of physical activity based on baseline physical activity levels and the type of instrument used to assess levels of physical activity .