Abstrakt

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an outpatient medical rehabilitation (OMR) mainly composed of exercise therapy and sports for patients with asbestosis. Following the model of Hamburg the OMR focuses on keeping up lasting effects. Methods: In the frame of a pre-experimental study 184 male patients aged 66.8 ± 5.1 years suffering asbestosis carried out over a period of 3 weeks 5 times weekly 6 hours at a time Phase 1 of the OMR consisting of evidence-based contents of the pulmonary rehabilitation. Directly after that further therapeutic applications with the main focus on exercise therapy and sports were applied over a period of 12 weeks 1 time weekly 3 hours at a time (Phase 2). After Phase 2 the rehabilitation center led the patients, when interested in, into sport groups near at place of residence (Phase 3). The effects of the OMR were evaluated at the beginning (T1), at the end of Phase 1 (T2) and Phase 2 (T3) as well as 6 months after T3 (T4) by means of a suitable assessment. Results: Compared to T1 physical fitness (6-minute walk test, hand-force test, PWC test) as well as health-related quality of life (SF-36) of the patients were significantly improved in T2. Whereas the parameter “vital capacity” and “forced expiratory volume” showed no change over the period of investigation data of “oxygen partial pressure” was significantly increased, too. These positive effects could be confirmed in T3. 149 patients (81%) were doing sports due to health regularly still 6 months after T3 and could preserve their health outcome in T4, while the effects of rehabilitation of the 35 patients breaking off any sporting activities wore off again to starting condition in T1. Conclusions: In spite of a restrictive pulmonary disease specific exercise therapy and sports are able to mobilize physical reserves of performance and induce an increasing quality of life as well as a higher resilience in activities of daily living. These positive effects could be stabilized persistently by a regular training one time weekly. That way the results emphasize the necessity to put strategies of aftercare into the concept of rehabilitation.

Autoreninformation

Autoren

• S. Dalichau¹
• A. Demedts²
• A. im Sande³
• T. Möller¹

Abteilungen

• ¹ Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfall-Ambulanz und Reha-Zentrum am Airport Bremen,
• ² Facharztpraxis für Lungen- und Bronchialheilkunde, Bremen,
• ³ Berufsgenossenschaft Metall Nord Süd, Bezirksverwaltung Bremen

Adresse

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. S. Dalichau
BG Unfall-Ambulanz und Reha-Zentrum am Airport Bremen
Industriestraße 3
D–28199 Bremen
Email: [email protected]

Citation