Perfil das atividades físicas na vida diária de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica-DPOC: uma revisão bibliográfica

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow obstruction associated with physical inactivity and deconditioning. It is not fully reversible and is associated with a pulmonary inflammatory response to inhalation of noxious particles or gases to health. The physical inactivity is related to skeletal muscle dysfunction and dyspnea. It is important to physiotherapy treatment identify the presence and the mechanisms related to activity of life limitations. In this way, the aim of this study was to identify the main instruments for measuring daily physical activity in clinical practice and its feasibility and applicability; to assess the main activities and postures adopted by these patients in their daily routine, and the intensities of these activities. METHODS: to conduct this literature review were used studies available in databases: SciELO, Lilacs, Pubmed and Medline, published in the last five years (2006-2010), in English and Portuguese. It were included studies that measured the physical activity levels in which individuals with COPD were clinically steady and do not using oxygen at home. It were found 39 articles, 17 of which were used for this study. RESULTS: According to the articles used in this study, individual with COPD tend to spend most of their time sitting, with less time and intensity of walking. The reason for this finding has several explanations. Most of the articles defend the idea of the vicious circle of inactivity, deconditioning and dyspnea. It was observed that most of the studies gave preference to the use of accelerometers, to the detriment of pedometers to evaluated the level of daily life activity. CONCLUSION: The analyzed studies show that most of patients with COPD use a little amount of physical activity into their daily life. The level of physical activity on these subjects can predict morbidity and mortality risk. Physical activities in daily life can be quantified through the use of questionnaires and motion sensors (pedometers and accelerometers). The authors report that lower levels of physical activity in daily life of COPD patients could be due to dynamic hyperinflation present in these individuals, which leads to the vicious cycle of inactivity, deconditioning and dyspnea promoting progression and worsening of the disease.