Effect on muscle strength after blood flow restriction resistance exercise in early in-patient rehabilitation of post-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease acute exacerbation, a single blinded, randomized controlled study.

Background: Early commencement of rehabilitation might counteract the loss of muscle strength due to a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease acute exacerbation (COPDAE). Blood flow restriction resistance exercise (BFR-RE) using a low intensity of training load has demonstrated muscle strength gain in varieties of clinical populations. This trial aimed at studying the efficacy and acceptability of BFR-RE in patients with post-COPDAE which was not reported before.