Greater exercise tolerance in COPD during acute interval, compared to equivalent constant-load, cycle exercise: physiological mechanisms KU Leuven
KEY POINTS: Exercise intolerance is common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. In patients with COPD, we compared an interval exercise (IE) protocol (alternating 30 s at 100% peak work rate (WRpeak ) with 30 s at 50% WRpeak ) with moderate-intensity constant-load exercise (CLE) at 75% WRpeak , which yielded the same work rate. Exercise endurance time and total work output were almost twice as high for IE than CLE. At ...