Adults with cystic fibrosis fare better when they undertake an unsupervised home exercise regimen tailored to their liking, UK researchers report in the medical journal Thorax.

“Short-term studies of exercise training have shown benefits in cystic fibrosis,” Dr. A. K. Webb, of Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK, and colleagues write. “Transferring exercise programs to the community and sustaining them long term is a challenge for the patient.”

The researchers examined the effectiveness of an individualized unsupervised home-based exercise program in 48 adults with cystic fibrosis over 1 year.

Thirty of the participants performed upper and lower body exercises, based on individual preferences, three times per week, while the others served as a “control” group. Blood lactate levels were measured as an indicator of fitness, along with heart rate and lung function.

With leg exercises, the active exercise group had a significant decrease in blood lactate in comparison to the control groups. Heart rate also fell, confirming a beneficial training effect.

No change in lactate levels was seen with arm exercise, but it did improve lung function.

“Although intensive supervised programs have achieved excellent short-term results, a patient-centered approach may have greater advantages in the longer term and offers a practical solution to encouraging exercise,” Webb’s group concludes.

As they point out, “Long-term improvements in pulmonary function from sustained exercise are an ultimate goal which can potentially affect survival.”

SOURCE: Thorax, December 2004.