Table 4 Exercise training program for both usual care (Control group) and Intervention group

• Supervised individually tailored group training (6–7 patients)

• From low to moderate continuous endurance training on cycle ergometer

• Warm up (< 50% target intensity 2 min, gradually increasing load 1–10 W/min up to target intensity within 5–10 min);

• exercise phase (100% of the target intensity (30–50% watt_max or 60–70% maximal heart rate (HR_max)), starting with > 5 min and gradually lengthening up to 30 min);

• cool down with gradual reduction of the load within 3 min

• Supervised individually tailored group training (6–7 patients)

• From low to moderate intensity exercises, BORG ≤13

• 1 min of exercises, 45 s rest

• From easy/known exercise - to harder/unknown

• Equipment: small gymnastic ball, gymnastic stick, chair

• Stretching and breathing exercises (5 min) for warm up and cool down

• Seated march: Raising one knee after another, returning to starting position

• Straightening bent elbow while standing in front and bending back

• Waist bend to both sides while standing

• Knee bends in combination with swinging arms

• Side/back steps in combination with arm lift

• Marching while standing: from heel lift to gentle march involving arm movement

• Heel kicks – toe tap behind opposite heel/heel kick behind

• Unsupervised exercises after two individually supervised trainings

• Equipment: lung exerciser (Respiprogram, Germany).

• 10 repetitions, rest between sessions, repeat few times per day.

• Patient was told to slowly and deeply inhale to raise yellow ball. Than hold breath for at least 5 s and exhale until the ball falls.