The extent of exercise limitation and the mechanisms for that limitation in 11 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) were studied by progressive, upright cycle ergometry. All patients had a mean pulmonary artery pressure of 30 mm Hg or higher (mean, 56 +/- 15), normal pulmonary function testing, normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and pulmonary angiography consistent with th...

Physical exercise is defined as any activity that produces body motion due to muscle contraction dependent on energy consumption and which has progressive benefits on the state of health. The effects of exercise on health in both primary and secondary prevention are becoming increasingly better known. A large part of current society has not been able to widely incorporate exercise into daily ro...

The variable natural history of sarcoidosis and the toxicity of corticosteroids result in many clinical situations where there is controversy concerning the need for treatment. Progressive incremental testing is an excellent method to identify physiologic mechanisms responsible for exercise limitation. It is therefore ideal to determine if subjective symptoms such as dyspnea are due to cardiac ...

This study examined the effects of human pregnancy and advancing gestation on the intensity of respiratory discomfort (dyspnea) during cycle exercise. Fourteen pregnant women (PG) performed a progressive cycle ergometer exercise test involving 20 W/min increases in work rate to symptom limitation and/or a heart rate of 170-175 beats/min at 19.7+/-1.2 weeks (ENTRY), 28.2+/-0.3 weeks (TM2) and 36...

Tetraplegic volunteers undertook progressive exercise training, using novel systems for arm-cranking exercise assisted by Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). The main aim was to determine potential training effects of FES-assisted arm-crank ergometry (FES-ACE) on upper limb strength and cardiopulmonary (fitness) in tetraplegia. Surface FES was applied to the biceps and triceps during exerc...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 500 μg roflumilast, taken once daily for 12 weeks, on airway physiology during rest and exercise in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was conducted in 250 patients with a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV...

BACKGROUND The natural history of disease in patients with stage IV (fibrotic) sarcoidosis may mirror that of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Both are bothered by progressive dyspnea, exercise limitation and fatigue. OBJECTIVE To establish whether patients suffering from pulmonary fibrosis might benefit from a physical training program. STUDY DESIGN Twenty-four eligible p...

The diminished cardiac output response to exercise with advancing age may be attributable to intrinsic inability of the old ventricle to respond appropriately and/or to an additional loading imposed upon the ventricle by the aged vascular system. The steady (resistance) and pulsatile (characteristic impedance) load components together comprise the vascular load faced by the ejecting ventricle. ...

Pompe disease (PD) causes a progressive muscular weakness and impairment of patients’ mobility. Many patients develop intolerance to exercise due to reduced activity and consequent decline in muscle function. Exercise training prevents physical deconditioning and muscle wasting. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) was recently introduced, and has modifi ed the course of the disease. Other therapeu...

Twenty girls, aged 11-15 years, with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were studied before spinal fusion was performed. Each underwent a range of lung function tests and a standardised progressive exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. The resting lung function tests showed reduced peak flow rates, lung volumes, and maximum voluntary ventilation. The maximum oxygen uptake was slightly diminished b...