Highlights
- •People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have balance impairment compared to those without COPD.
- •Available evidence shows exercise can improve balance performance in people with COPD.
- •More research on exercise interventions on balance in COPD is needed.
Abstract
Objective
To systematically review the evidence for balance impairment and effectiveness of
interventions on balance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Data Sources
Four electronic databases (Scopus, CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane Library databases) were
searched from inception until June 30, 2019.
Study Selection
Two reviewers independently searched with keywords focusing on COPD, postural control,
and exercise. Cross-sectional studies related to balance and randomized controlled
trials (RCTs) related to the effectiveness of exercise intervention on balance outcomes
were included.
Data Extraction
Two reviewers independently extracted data of balance impairment on participants,
exercise training on balance outcome measures. Methodological quality of cross-sectional
studies was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment
Tool. Methodological quality of RCTs was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence
Database (PEDro) scale and bias was analyzed using the Cochrane risk of bias.
Data Synthesis
A narrative review with descriptive synthesis was used. Fifteen cross-sectional studies
and 4 RCTs met the final inclusion criteria. The quality of 10 cross-sectional studies
were rated as moderate to high (NIH score≥7). Most studies demonstrated impaired balance
in people with COPD than in people without COPD. The quality of all included RCTs
was good to excellent (PEDro score=6-9). One RCT had a low risk of bias. Generally,
pulmonary rehabilitation program combined with balance training, Tai Chi, and cycling
exercise showed significant improvement in balance in people with COPD.
Conclusions
Impaired balance is evident in people with COPD. Available RCTs suggest that exercise
interventions may improve balance performance in COPD patients. However, more research
on the effect of exercise interventions on balance in COPD patients is still required.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
ABC (Activities-specific Balance Confidence), AP (anteroposterior), BBS (Berg Balance Scale), BESTest (Balance Evaluation System test), CoM (center of mass), COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), NIH (National Institutes of Health), ML (mediolateral), PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), PR (pulmonary rehabilitation), RCT (randomized controlled trial), SLS (single leg stance), TUG (timed Up and Go)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 27, 2020
Footnotes
Disclosures: none
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
