Figure 1.

COPD skeletal muscle adaptations to various modalities of exercise training. Exercise training is a powerful stimulus producing hypertrophy and regeneration of muscle by increased protein metabolism and fusion of satellite cells to existent myofiber. Endurance- and resistance-based exercise training programmes are characterised as stimuli capable for increasing oxidative capacity and hypertrophy, respectively, whereas high intensity interval training is capable of increasing both oxidative capacity and hypertrophy. Skeletal muscle adaptations observed from combined endurance/resistance as well as high intensity interval training reflect a wider range of stimuli. [The Figure has been inspired by Robinson et al. (21) and modified based on presented theory]. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.