Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Randomized controlled trial
Participants
34 adults with CF hospitalized for pulmonary exacerbation
Interventions
An early rehabilitation program. The intervention group underwent an early rehabilitation program for 14 days after admission.
Outcome measures
Lung function, muscle strength, inflammatory markers, and quality of life. All patients underwent spirometry, one-repetition maximum tests (1RM), and the 6-min walk test, and answered the Revised Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire (CFQ-R) for quality of life and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Serum levels of interleukin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were measured.
Main results
In the intervention group, there were increases in 1RM biceps (P=0.009), triceps (P=0.005), shoulder abductors (P=0.002), shoulder flexors (P=0.004), hamstrings (P<0.001), and quadriceps values (P<0.001). In addition, there were improvements in CFQ-R-emotion (P=0.002), treatment burden (P=0.002), vitality (P=0.011), and physical scores (P=0.026), and a reduction in the Borg resting fatigue score (P=0.037). The interleukins levels did not change after the intervention.
Authors' conclusions
In adult CF patients with pulmonary exacerbation, early hospital rehabilitation had a significant impact on improving resting fatigue, muscle strength, and quality of life.