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Project

Physical activity and coaching in patients with chronic respiratory diseases

Physical fitness and physical activity are important to maintain health in the general population, but also in patients suffering a chronic lung disease. Physical activity has been related to morbidity and mortality in several lung diseases.

During the last decades, research has provided insight into the physical activity pattern in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the possible consequences of low physical activity in these patients and interventions to enhance their physical activity. However, research on the physical activity pattern, its consequences and ways to improve physical activity in other patient populations, like patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and patients after a lung transplantation (LTX) is scarce. The specific physiological limitation in both patient groups (gas exchange abnormalities in patients ILD and muscle limitations in both patients with ILD and after LTX) makes it difficult to extrapolate the findings of the COPD studies. Therefore, this project will investigate whether there are similarities in the physical activity pattern of patients with COPD and ILD. Also, our research group already provided positive effects for increased physical activity in patients with COPD by applying a telecoaching program. We will apply this telecoaching program for three months in patients with ILD and for one year in patients after LTX.

This PhD project aims to 1) gain insight into the physical activity pattern in patients with ILD compared to patients with COPD and healthy subjects and 2) establish an effective telecoaching program to increase physical activity in patients with ILD and patients after LTX.

Date:1 Jan 2020 →  27 Mar 2024
Keywords:Respiratory Rehabilitation
Disciplines:Respiratory medicine, Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation
Project type:PhD project