Residual effects of 12 weeks of power-oriented resistance training plus high-intensity interval training on muscle dysfunction, systemic oxidative damage, and antioxidant capacity after 10 months of training cessation in older people with COPD.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the residual effects of a 12-week concurrent training program (power training + high-intensity interval training) in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: A total of 21 older adults with COPD [intervention (INT), n = 8; control (CON), n = 13; 76.9 ± 6.8 years] were assessed at baseline and 10 months after the completion of the intervention by the short physical performance battery (SPPB), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), vastus lateralis muscle thickness (MT), peak pulmonary oxygen uptake (peak VO ) and peak work rate (W ), early and late isometric rate of force development (RFD), leg and chest press maximum muscle power (LP and CP ), and systemic oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity.

Results: Compared to baseline, after 10 months of detraining, the INT group presented increased SPPB (∆ = 1.0 point), health-related quality of life (∆ = 0.07 points), early RFD (∆ = 834 N∙s ), LP (∆ = 62.2 W), and CP (∆ = 16.0 W) (all p < 0.05). In addition, a positive effect was noted in INT compared to CON regarding MT and W (both p < 0.05). No between-group differences were reported in peak VO , late RFD, systemic oxidative damage, and antioxidant capacity from baseline to 10 months after the completion of the intervention (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Twelve weeks of concurrent training were enough to ensure improved physical function, health-related quality of life, early RFD and maximum muscle power and to preserve MT and W but not peak VO , late RFD, systemic oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity in the subsequent 10 months of detraining in older adults with COPD.