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Study investigates ways to increase exercise capability of patients with chronic lung disease

New University of Leicester research is investigating how energy is delivered to the leg muscles during exercise.

This research will play a vital role is assisting people with lung disease.

Dr Lori Calvert’s research involved testing patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in the laboratory at Glenfield Hospital to see how energy is delivered to the leg muscles during exercise.

She will present findings from her research at the Doctoral Inaugural Lecture taking place on Wednesday 18 November at the University of Leicester.

Volunteers performed cycling and walking tests in the exercise laboratory at the Hospital. Her studies show that patients’ muscles run out of energy much sooner than healthy people.

Dr Calvert said: “The research is part of the work done by the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Research Group (PRRG) based at Glenfield Hospital, which has a high international reputation for clinical research into chronic lung disease. Previous studies have shown that the leg muscles have a very important role in the development of exercise limitation with patients who suffer from COPD. Patients with the disease have to curtail activity because the delivery of energy to their muscles during exercise is impaired.”

In one study Dr Calvert injected a drug that enables muscles to use energy more efficiently and found that her patients were able to cycle for longer periods of time.

In another study, she investigated if pulmonary rehabilitation can improve the use of muscle energy.

Dr Calvert added: “In Leicester, pulmonary rehabilitation programmes are available to all patients with COPD and can significantly improve exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to see if we could maximise this benefit.”

Dr Calvert will present her research on Wednesday 18th November at 5.30pm in the Frank and Katherine May Lecture Theatre, Henry Wellcome Building, University of Leicester. The lecture is free and open to all. To book a place please visit Doctoral Inaugural Lectures site http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/sd/pgr/events/inaugural/dil-12-nov

Dr Lori Calvert is now a Consultant Respiratory Physician at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where there is a developing clinical research programme. She obtained her MBChB(Honours) from Birmingham University Medical School in 1995 and became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians in 1998. She also undertook a BSC in Physiology at Birmingham