[Effects of Baduanjin, bedside cycle ergometer and balloon-blowing training on pulmonary function recovery following thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer: a randomized controlled trial].

Abstract

Objectives: To systematically compare the effects of Baduanjin exercise, bedside cycle ergometer training, and balloon-blowing training on pulmonary function recovery in patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer.

Methods: This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial. From January, 2021 to June, 2022, 334 patients undergoing thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer were enrolled and randomly assigned to Baduanjin group (108 cases), bedside cycle ergometer training group (109 cases), and balloon-blowing training group (117 cases). All the patients received 12 weeks of assigned intervention. Systematic assessments of lung function, exercise tolerance, dyspnea level, pain intensity, immune function, aerobic capacity, quality of life, and patient engagement were conducted at postoperative day 1 (baseline), 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively.

Results: At 12 weeks postoperatively, all observed indicators in the 3 groups showed significant improvement compared to the baseline levels (P<0.05). Baduanjin exercise resulted in the most pronounced improvements in immune function indicators (CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, IgA, and IgG levels), pain intensity, dyspnea score, quality of life score, and treatment engagement, outperforming the other two trainings (P<0.05). The patients in bedside cycle ergometer group showed significantly more obvious improvements in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), 6-min walking distance, and peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) than those in balloon-blowing training group (P<0.05), but these improvements did not differ significantly from those observed in Baduanjin group (P>0.05). Balloon-blowing training resulted in only limited overall improvements of the measured indicators.

Conclusions: Baduanjin, bedside cycle ergometer training and balloon-blowing training are all effective rehabilitation methods after video-assisted thoracoscopic radical resection for lung cancer. Personalized rehabilitation choices can be provided for patients based on their rehabilitation needs.