THE IMPACT OF THERAPEUTIC EXERCISES ON FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH COPD: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

This article aims to analyze how therapeutic exercise influences the functional capacity of patients with COPD, identifying key exercise strategies and their short-, medium-, and long-term effects, while also correlating these with physiological changes in the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems of individuals with COPD. This is a systematic literature review conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines. A systematic search was performed across the following electronic databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and PEDro. Six articles were included and characterized based on study type and intervention. Functional markers in COPD patients showed favorable responses to the interventions—specifically regarding the 6-minute walk test, the sit-to-stand test, and muscle strength—particularly with longer-duration interventions. The study concludes that therapeutic exercises, when part of a well-structured protocol, can optimize and enhance the functional capacity of patients with COPD, in addition to providing essential physiological benefits.