Description of studies included in the final screening
| First author [ref.] | Year | Completed n (% of initial) | Respiratory rehabilitation programme | Exercise test | PEDro score | ||
| Add-on intervention | Components of training | Exercise training sessions n | |||||
| Additional exercise modalities | |||||||
| Benton [9] | 2013 | 19 (100) | Single set of resistance training | Cy, Tr | 16 | 6MWT | 4 |
| Vonbank [10] | 2012 | 24 (100) | Strength training | Cy | 24 | CPET | 3 |
| Bernard [11] | 1999 | 36 (80) | Strength training | Cy | 36 | CPET+ | 5 |
| Dourado [12] | 2009 | 24 (73) | Strength training | Tr, Cal | 36 | 6MWT | 4 |
| Phillips [13] | 2006 | 19 (unclear) | Strength training | Cy, Tr, Cal, PE | 13 | 6MWT | 4 |
| Mador [14] | 2004 | 24 (unclear) | Strength training | Cy, Tr | 24 | CPET, 6MWT | 6 |
| Würtemberger [15] | 2001 | 24 (100) | Strength training | Cy, PE | NR | CPET, 6MWT | 4 |
| Alexander [16] | 2008 | 20 (75) | Strength training | Cy, Tr | 16 | 6MWT | 3 |
| Holland [17] | 2004 | 38 (100) | Upper and lower limb strength | Cy, Tr | 12 | 6MWT | 7 |
| Subin [18] | 2010 | 17 (100) | Upper and lower limb strength | Tr | 20 | 6MWT | 4 |
| Sívori [19] | 1998 | 28 (65) | Upper and lower limb strength | Cy | 24 | CPET, 12MWT | 4 |
| Costi [20] | 2009 | 46 (92) | Upper and lower limb strength | Tr, Cal, St | 15 | 6MWT§ | 8 |
| Vivodtzev [21]# | 2006 | 17 (100) | NMES | Tr, Cal, St | 16 | 6MWT | 5 |
| Rooyackers [22] | 2003 | 24 (100) | Eccentric cycling | Cy, St | 50 | CPET, 6MWT | 4 |
| Gloeckl [23] | 2012 | 72 (88) | Whole body vibration | Cy, Cal, St, PE, Nut | 15 | 6MWT§,ƒ | 6 |
| NIV | |||||||
| Johnson [24]¶ | 2002 | 22 (79) | Bi-level NIV | Tr, PE | 12 | CPETƒ | 4 |
| Toledo [25] | 2007 | 18 (100) | Bi-level NIV | Tr | 36 | CPET | 3 |
| Reuveny [26]# | 2005 | 19 (79) | Bi-level NIV | Tr | 16 | CPET | 6 |
| Costes [27] | 2003 | 14 (100) | Bi-level NIV | Cy | 24 | CPET, endurance## | 4 |
| van’t Hul [28]# | 2006 | 21 (72) | Inspiratory support | Cy | 24 | ISWT, endurance | 8 |
| Hawkins [29] | 2002 | 19 (66) | Proportional assisted ventilation | Cy | 18 | CPET, endurance | 5 |
| Bianchi [30] | 2002 | 19 (58) | Proportional assisted ventilation | Cy, St, PE, Nut | 18 | CPET, 6MWT | 5 |
| Garrod [31] | 2000 | 37 (82) | Nocturnal NIV | Cy, Tr, St, PE | 16 | ISWT§,ƒ | 6 |
| Duiverman [32]# | 2008 | 62 (86) | Nocturnal NIV | Cy, Tr, St, IMT, PE, Nut | 36, plus 69 nights of NIV | 6MWT, endurance, CPET | 4 |
| Oxygen | |||||||
| Scorsone [33]¶ | 2010 | 30 (100) | Supplementary oxygen | Cy | 24 | CPET, enduranceƒ | 5 |
| Emtner [34]# | 2003 | 29 (100) | Supplementary oxygen | Cy, PE | 21 | CPET, endurance | 7 |
| Garrod [35]# | 2000 | 22 (88) | Supplementary oxygen | Cy, Tr, Cal, PE | 18 | ISWT | 8 |
| Wadell [36]# | 2001 | 20 (100) | Supplementary oxygen | Tr | 24 | 6MWT | 6 |
| Dyer [37]# | 2012 | 47 (85) | Supplementary oxygen | Tr, St, PE | 14 | ESWT§,ƒ | 6 |
| Rooyackers [38]# | 1997 | 24 (unclear) | Supplementary oxygen | Cy, Cal, St, PE | 50 | CPET, 6MWT | 5 |
| Bjørgen [39] | 2009 | 12 (79) | Supplementary oxygen | Cy | 24 | CPETƒ | 3 |
| Ringbaek [40]# | 2013 | 38 (84) | Continuous oxygen supplement | Cy, Tr, PE | 14 | ESWTƒ | 5 |
| Heliox | |||||||
| Johnson [24]¶ | 2002 | 21 (88) | Supplementary heliox | Tr, PE | 12 | CPETƒ | 4 |
| Eves [41] | 2009 | 31 (82) | Supplementary heliox | Cy, Tr, Cal, St, PE | 16 | CPET, enduranceƒ | 9 |
| Scorsone [33]¶ | 2010 | 30 (100) | Supplementary heliox | Cy | 24 | CPET, enduranceƒ | 5 |
| Prescription medications | |||||||
| Pasqua [42]# | 2010 | 22 (100) | Tiotropium | Cy, Tr, Cal, IMT | 20 | 6MWT | 3 |
| Ambrosino [43] | 2008 | 120 (68) | Tiotropium | Tr | 24 | 6MWTƒ | 8 |
| Casaburi [44] | 2005 | 91 (84) | Tiotropium | Tr | 24 | Endurance§ | 6 |
| Creutzberg [45] | 2003 | 63 (100) | Anabolic steroids | Cy | 40 | CPET | 10 |
| Ferreira [46]# | 1998 | 17 (100) | Anabolic steroids | Cy, IMT | 40 | CPET, 6MWT## | 7 |
| Miki [47]# | 2012 | 29 (100) | Ghrelin | Cy, Cal, PE | 45 | 6MWTƒ | 9 |
| Burdet [48]# | 1997 | 16 (100) | Growth hormone | Aero NR | 36 | CPET, 6MWT## | 8 |
| Miki [49]# | 2013 | 20 (100) | Ghrelin | Cy, Cal, PE | 15 | CPET¶¶ | 9 |
| Hornikx [50] | 2012 | 49 (98) | Vitamin D supplement | Cy, Tr, St, PE | 36 | CPET¶¶, 6MWT | 8 |
| Blanco [51]# | 2013 | 41 (85) | Sildenafil | Cy, St | 36 | CPET, enduranceƒ, 6MWT | 8 |
| Satta [52] | 1991 | 20 (unclear) | Ubidecarenone | Tr | NR | CPET | 6 |
| Valderramas [53] | 2009 | 64 (94) | Hypertonic saline | Tr, Cal, St | 24 | 6MWTƒ,## | 8 |
| Nutrition | |||||||
| Laviolette [54] | 2010 | 20 (92) | Whey protein | Cy, St | 24 | Endurance | 6 |
| Sugawara [55] | 2012 | 26 (83) | MEIN (whey protein) | Tr, Cal, IMT, PE | NR | 6MWT | 8 |
| Steiner [56] | 2003 | 60 (70) | Carbohydrates, protein and fat | Tr, Cal, PE | 14 | ISWTƒ, ESWT | 8 |
| Gurgun [57]# | 2013 | 30 (100) | Carbohydrates, protein and fat | Cy, Tr, St | 16 | ISWT, 6MWT | 4 |
| Broekhuizen [58] | 2005 | 80 (78) | Polyunsaturated fat | Cy, Tr, PE | NR | CPET+ | 7 |
| Deacon [59] | 2008 | 80 (80) | Creatine monohydrate | Cy, Tr, St, PE | 21 | ISWTƒ, ESWT | 7 |
| Faager [60] | 2006 | 23 (100) | Creatine monohydrate | Cy, Cal, St, PE | 16 | ESWT | 5 |
| Fuld [61] | 2005 | 25 (66) | Creatine monohydrate | Cy, Cal, St, PE | 16 | CPET, ISWTƒ | 7 |
| Menier [62] | 2001 | 60 (100) | Branched-chain amino acid | Cy, Cal, St | 30 | CPET | 3 |
| Borghi-Silva [63] | 2006 | 16 (unclear) | L-carnitine | Tr, IMT | 18 | CPET, 6MWT§ | 5 |
| Breathing exercises | |||||||
| Magadle [64] | 2007 | 27 (87) | Inspiratory muscle training | Cy, Tr, St | 108 | 6MWT | 7 |
| Mador [65] | 2005 | 29 (76) | Inspiratory muscle training | Cy, Tr, Cal, PE | 24 | CPET, 6MWT | 5 |
| Larson [66] | 1999 | 28 (unclear) | Inspiratory muscle training | Cy | 80 | CPET | 5 |
| Berry [67] | 1996 | 16 (94) | Inspiratory muscle training | Tr, St | 36, plus 96 IMT sessions | CPET, endurance, 12MWT | 5 |
| Wanke [68] | 1994 | 42 (unclear) | Inspiratory muscle training | Cy | 32, plus 56 IMT sessions | CPET | 4 |
| Weiner [69] | 1992 | 24 (unclear) | Inspiratory muscle training | Cy, St | 72 | Endurance, 12MWT§ | 5 |
| Dekhuijzen [70]# | 1991 | 40 (100) | Inspiratory muscle training | Cy, Tr, St | 100 | CPET, 12MWT | 5 |
| Kunikoshita [71] | 2006 | 15 (100) | Inspiratory muscle training | Tr, Cal | 18 | CPET | 4 |
| Sykes [72] | 2005 | 37 (93) | Inspiratory muscle training | Cy, St | 40 | CPET, 6MWT | 7 |
| Goldstein [73] | 1989 | 11 (100) | Inspiratory muscle training | Aero NR | Exercise training++ plus 40 IMT sessions | Endurance, 6MWT | 5 |
| Collins [74] | 2008 | 33 (79) | Ventilation feedback | Cy, Tr | 36 | CPET, endurance | 5 |
| van Gestel [75] | 2012 | 40 (100) | Controlled breathing | Cy, St | 10 | 6MWT | 6 |
| Other | |||||||
| Carrieri-Kohlman [76] | 1996 | 51 (100) | Coaching versus monitoring | Tr | 12 | CPET, 6MWT | 5 |
| Zanotti [77] | 2012 | 20 (100) | Osteopathy | Cy, St, PE | 20 | 6MWT | 9 |
| Alexander [78] | 2012 | 27 (unclear) | Harmonica playing | Cy, Tr | 16 | 6MWT | 4 |
| de Godoy [79] | 2003 | 30 (100) | Psychotherapy | Cy, Tr, Cal, St | 24 | 6MWT | 5 |
| Sharifabad [80] | 2010 | 63 (100) | Written disclosure therapy | Cy, Tr, St, PE | 24 | 6MWT | 4 |
| Norweg [81]¶ | 2005 | 33 (89) | Activity training/lectures | Tr, Cal | 15, plus ∼1 h·week−1 | 6MWT | 3 |
| Deering [82] | 2011 | 41 (100) | Acupuncture | Tr | 14 | ISWT | 6 |
NIV: noninvasive ventilation; Cy: cycling; Tr: treadmill; 6MWT: 6-min walk test; CPET: cardiopulmonary exercise testing; Cal: calisthenics; PE: psychological or educational support; NR: not reported; 12MWT: 12-min walk test; St: strengthening; NMES: neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Nut: nutritional support; endurance: cycle endurance test; ISWT: incremental shuttle walk test; IMT: inspiratory muscle training; ESWT: endurance shuttle walk test; Aero NR: no aerobic training details reported. #: exemplar studies of patient-centred care; ¶: study included two appropriate interventions; +: statistically significant effect favouring intervention for peak work rate outcome; §: statistically significant effect favouring intervention; ƒ: outcomes with adequate statistical power, according to original publication; ##: statistically significant effect favouring control; ¶¶: statistically significant effect favouring intervention for peak oxygen uptake outcome; ++: training duration of 4 weeks, frequency not reported. Bold indicates statistically significant effects.