Comparison of peak oxygen consumption during cycle and treadmill exercise in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract

Although only a small number of patients was studied and individual variability was large, there was no clear difference between the two forms of exercise. Regular bicycle exercise was unfamiliar to this group of patients and generated the greatest lactate response. The results do not support the hypothesis that bicycle exercise will produce a better performance in patients with severe COPD, but the two modes of exercise cannot be used interchangeably.