Home-Based, Moderate-Intensity Exercise Training Using a Metronome Improves the Breathing Pattern and Oxygen Saturation During Exercise in Patients With COPD.

Purpose: One of the well-known but less-investigated effects of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the change in breathing pattern toward a more efficient one (higher tidal volume [VT], lower breathing frequency). Evidence suggests this change can be obtained only with supervised, high-intensity exercise training (ExTr). However, some patients either do not have such programs available or are unable to exercise at higher intensity.