Table 1 Demographics and baseline characteristics of the participants

Age (years)

73.00 ± 5.36

73.86 ± 3.46

74.32 ± 4.82

71.95 ± 5.09

0.374

Weight (kg)

68.20 ± 8.94

67.55 ± 9.66

67.70 ± 10.44

71.91 ± 9.24

0.574

Height (m)

1.64 ± 0.04

1.63 ± 0.06

1.66 ± 0.06

1.67 ± 0.04

0.434

BMI (kg/m²)

25.18 ± 3.08

24.94 ± 2.66

24.57 ± 2.75

25.78 ± 2.98

0.684

FVC (L)

3.22 ± 0.51

3.19 ± 0.57

3.04 ± 0.46

3.25 ± 0.58

0.403

FVC (% predicted)

99.23 ± 14.28

100.28 ± 16.20

94.15 ± 16.13

95.36 ± 13.89

0.583

FEV₁ (L)

2.48 ± 0.41

2.42 ± 0.59

2.31 ± 0.49

2.46 ± 0.59

0.653

FEV₁ (% predicted)

112.17 ± 16.71

110.35 ± 27.18

106.31 ± 24.73

105.84 ± 21.09

0.788

FEV₁/FVC (%)

76.17 ± 5.55

74.57 ± 9.61

75.57 ± 11.28

74.89 ± 9.71

0.734

PCF (L/min)

438.82 ± 74.57

414.28 ± 96.13

426.31 ± 87.63

424.21 ± 111.22

0.962

MIP (cmH₂O)

93.05 ± 23.81

78.35 ± 15.43

77.99 ± 18.01

85.33 ± 30.11

0.316

MIP (% predicted)

103.38 ± 26.78

87.42 ± 17.68

87.11 ± 20.23

94.13 ± 32.45

0.313

MEP (cmH₂O)

82.54 ± 24.11

96.07 ± 21.53

92.07 ± 18.03

99.00 ± 29.27

0.100

MEP (% predicted)

72.70 ± 20.61

85.26 ± 18.98

81.91 ± 15.42

86.55 ± 24.90

0.119

VO₂ peak (ml/kg/min)

33.85 ± 5.55

29.01 ± 5.58

35.76 ± 9.45

34.52 ± 6.29

0.466

Adherence rate (% sessions completed)

91.94 ± 21.93

99.50 ± 1.87

92.37 ± 14.35

92.05 ± 20.30

0.491

RMS (uV)

49.69 ± 20.56

46.27 ± 19.86

55.79 ± 31.96

42.37 ± 22.27

0.416

Right diaphragm thickness at end inspiration (mm)

2.90 ± 0.82

3.24 ± 0.94

2.63 ± 0.77

2.88 ± 0.59

0.207

SMI (kg/m²)

8.88 ± 0.89

8.90 ± 0.73

8.74 ± 0.72

9.13 ± 0.69

0.453

Bioimpedance-derived phase angle

5.84 ± 0.71

5.84 ± 0.55

5.90 ± 0.50

6.16 ± 0.51

0.178

IPAQ (MET-min/week)

2998.23 ± 3135.65

2365.92 ± 2286.87

3071.89 ± 2164.56

3672.10 ± 4046.08

0.455

IPAQ (activity level)

2.11 ± 0.48

2.21 ± 0.57

2.36 ± 0.49

2.10 ± 0.73

0.422