Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is commonly associated with respiratory difficulties, but it also presents with musculoskeletal problems. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on balance and gait in patients with COPD.
We conducted a comprehensive search of 4 databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science, from inception to November 2023. The review included studies reporting the association between COPD status and balance and gait using PR. Two independent reviewers examined the titles and abstracts, extracted the data using a standardized form, and assessed the risk of bias of the included articles.
A total of 14 studies with 320 patients in the study groups and 188 controls were included in the analysis. The risk of bias in the included studies was medium to high. The results showed that PR non-statistically significantly improved balance, as demonstrated by moderate effect sizes in the Timed Up and Go (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.1: 95% CI, -1.41 to 1.69) and Berg Balance Scale (SMD = -0.39: 95% CI, -1.30 to 0.53). However, the impact of PR on gait function was less clear, with mixed results. The study findings highlight the positive but non-significant effects of PR on balance in individuals with COPD. The results suggest that PR programs could include exercises that target balance improvement to enhance the overall quality of patients. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal duration and intensity of these exercises to achieve maximum benefits for patients with COPD.