Introduction: The aim of this study was to
evaluate the effects of outpatient medical
rehabilitation (OMR) mainly composed of
exercise and sport therapy for patients with
asbestosis. Following the Hamburg model,
the OMR focuses on maintenance of lasting
effects.
Methods: In a preliminary study, 104 male
asbestosis patients aged 65.7 ± 5.5 years took
part in phase 1 of the OMR over a period of
three weeks, 5 times weekly, 6 h each time;
phase 1 consists of standardized pulmonary
rehabilitation. Directly afterwards, further
therapy with the main focus on exercise and
sport was applied over a period of 12 weeks,
once weekly, 3 h each time (phase 2). After
phase 2 the rehabilitation centre transferred
the patients into sports groups near their
places of residence (phase 3, maintenance
phase). 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 (T4)
and 18 months (T5) after T3 by means of appropriate
assessment.
Results: In comparison with the T1-results,
physical fitness (6-minute walk test, step test,
thigh muscle strength) and perceived dyspnoea
(Baseline/Transition Dyspnoea Index)
of the patients were significantly improved
during T2. Whereas the parameters “vital
capacity” and “forced expiratory volume”
showed no change over the study period,
the values for “oxygen partial pressure” were
significantly increased. These positive effects
could be confirmed in T3. 82 patients (79%)
were still exercising for their health regularly
6 and 18 months after T3 and could maintain
their health outcome at T4 and T5, while the
effects of rehabilitation of the 22 patients
who discontinued their sporting activities
wore off again to and even below the starting
condition at T1.
Conclusions: In spite of a restrictive pulmonary
disease, specific exercise therapy and
sport therapy are able to mobilize physical
performance reserves and improve quality
of life as well as producing higher resilience
in daily life. These positive effects could be
maintained by regular once weekly exercise.
These results emphasize the necessity of including
aftercare strategies in rehabilitation
concepts.