In activities involving upper limbs, COPD patients report an increase of dyspnea. For this reason, the authors of the recommendations about pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) propose to perform upper limbs (UL) muscle strengthening in COPD patients. However, the modalities of strengthening are not clearly established.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of UL endurance strengthening versus UL force strengthening on dyspnea, using London Chest Activity of daily Living questionnaire (LCADL), in patients with COPD during a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP).

In a open-label randomized trial, we compared the effects of UL endurance strengthening versus UL force strengthening, in 280 COPD patients admitted for a 4 weeks PRP on: (a) dyspnea, using LCADL, MMRC Dyspnea Scale, Dyspnea-12 questionnaire, (b) functional parameters including upper limb exercise capacity (using the 6-minute Peg Board and Ring Test), Maximal voluntary strength of deltoid, biceps, and brachial triceps, and (c) quality of life (Saint George respiratory Questionnaire). All tests were performed at the start and the end of PR, in intention to treat.

There was no difference between groups for decrease of dyspnea according to LCADL, MMRC, Dyspnea-12, nor for improvement of upper limbs strength (except biceps) and endurance, and for quality of life. There was a significant improvement for both groups on all parameters.

In this open-label randomized trial, no difference between upper limbs endurance strengthening versus upper limbs force strengthening was observed on evolution of dyspnea, upper limb strength (except biceps) nor endurance, and quality of life, in COPD patients. All these parameters were improved in both groups.