Meta- analysis revealed few clinical ly relevant and statistically significant benefits of " add-on " therapies on exercise performance compared with exercise training .
The aim of this review was to identify the effectiveness of therapies added on to conventional exercise training to maximise exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) .
Creatine supplementation and physical training in patients with COPD: A double blind, placebo-controlled study
Study objectives Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) have low exercise capacity and low content of high energetic phosphates in their skeletal muscles . The aim of the present study was to investigate whether creatine supplementation together with exercise training may increase physical performance compared with exercise training in patients with COPD . Design In a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study , 23 patients with COPD ( forced expiratory volume in one second [ FEV1 ] < 70 % of predicted ) were r and omized to oral creatine ( n = 13 ) or placebo ( n = 10 ) supplementation during an 8-week rehabilitation programme including exercise training . Physical performance was assessed by Endurance Shuttle Walking Test ( ESWT ) , dyspnea and leg fatigue with Borg CR-10 , quality of life with St George ’s Respiratory Question naire ( SGRQ ) . In addition , lung function test , artery blood gases , grip strength test , muscle strength and fatigue in knee extensors were measured . Results COPD patients receiving creatine supplementation increased their average walking time by 61 % ( ESWT ) ( p < 0.05 ) after the training period compared with 48 % ( p = 0.07 ) in the placebo group . Rated dyspnea directly after the ESWT decreased significantly from 7 to 5 ( p < 0.05 ) in the creatine group . However , the difference between the groups was not statistically significant neither in walking time nor in rated dyspnea . Creatine supplementation did not increase the health related quality of life , lung function , artery blood gases , grip strength and knee extensor strength/fatigue . Conclusions Oral creatine supplementation in combination with exercise training showed no significant improvement in physical performance , measured as ESWT , in patients with COPD compared with exercise training alone
Meta- analysis revealed few clinical ly relevant and statistically significant benefits of " add-on " therapies on exercise performance compared with exercise training .
The aim of this review was to identify the effectiveness of therapies added on to conventional exercise training to maximise exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) .