Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41234905›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in medicine2025

Effects of various exercise therapies on 6-min walk distance in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Haoran He, Zhikai Qin, Kuiliang Liu, Guilan Shen

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Haoran He *Beijing Union University, Beijing, China.
Zhikai Qin *School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Kuiliang Liu *Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Guilan ShenBeijing Union University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the effects of various exercise interventions on the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using network meta-analysis and to explore their optimal dosage configurations. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on exercise interventions for patients with COPD published before January 1, 2025, were retrieved from CNKI, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 55 eligible RCTs were included. A meta-analysis and network meta-analysis (using R software) evaluated the effects of water-based exercise, traditional Chinese mind-body training, and general exercise on 6MWD. For the optimal intervention method, subgroup analysis of the conventional meta-analysis and nonlinear meta-regression were used to examine the dosage-efficacy relationship. Results: Network meta-analysis showed water-based exercise (WBE) most favorably improved 6MWD (SUCRA = 98.9, MD = 83.91, 95% CI: 55.98-111.83), significantly outperforming traditional Chinese mind-body training (CTMBT) and general exercise (GE). Nonlinear meta-regression linked efficacy to dosage, with optimal outcomes achieved with ≥3 sessions/week (5 sessions as ideal), ≥60 min/session (90 min as perfect), an 8-weeks duration, and a total of 270 min/week. Patients aged ≤ 61.67 years showed more pronounced improvements. Conclusion: Water-based exercise was the most effective intervention for improving the 6MWD of COPD patients. Optimal results required managing frequency (≥3 times/week, ideally 5 times/week), session duration (≥60 min, ideally 90 min), 8 weeks, and a total of 270 min/week. Older patients (≤61.67 years) benefited more. This study supported individualized, evidence-based exercise rehabilitation strategies for COPD. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42025636763, identifier CRD42025636763.

Indexed as

6-min walk distanceChinese traditional mind-body trainingchronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseexercise therapynetwork meta-analysiswater-based exercise

Identifiers

PMID41234905
PMCPMC12605192

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.