Exercise training in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: is it of benefit?

KEY POINTS: Exercise training has been proven to be a safe and effective behavioural intervention for prevention and rehabilitation of chronic conditions. Despite the complexity of the signs and symptoms presented in IPF, supervised exercise training is a feasible and effective treatment for clinical improvement. Emerging data show significant enhancements in exercise capacity, dyspnoea and quality of life among IPF patients after exercise training interventions. Understanding of the principles of exercise training and the pathophysiology of IPF are essential for effective exercise programme delivery. EDUCATIONAL AIMS: To describe the current evidence supporting exercise training for IPF. To highlight the importance of exercise physiology principles in rehabilitation treatment of patients with IPF. To introduce an effective practical exercise programme for IPF. To discuss the possible underlying physiological mechanisms of training effects in IPF. Exercise is a well-documented safe and effective intervention for prevention and rehabilitation of chronic diseases. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic deadly lung disease associated with severe signs and symptoms, exercise intolerance, diminished quality of life and poor prognosis. In the short term, supervised exercise training programmes have demonstrated clinical benefits in improving exercise capacity, dyspnoea and quality of life in patients with IPF. The underlying mechanisms of chronic adaption to a regular exercise regimen in IPF have yet to be well described and require further investigation. The available data underscore the importance of implementing training principles to target the pathophysiological impairments of IPF in order to optimise training adaption and enhance the outcomes. The current exercise training data in IPF provide sufficient evidence of clinical benefit for consideration to be given to recommending exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation as standard of care for IPF.