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Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Published on: August 24, 2019

Distal leg muscle function in patients with COPD.

Philippe Gagnon1, François Maltais, Laurent Bouyer

  • 1Centre de recherche, Institut Universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.

COPD
|April 4, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit weaker distal leg muscles and increased fatigability compared to healthy individuals. This study investigated muscle strength and endurance in COPD patients during standardized exercise.

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Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Neuromuscular Function

Background:

  • Quadriceps muscle weakness and fatigability are known in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • The functional status of distal leg muscles in COPD patients remains unclear.
  • Understanding peripheral muscle involvement is crucial for managing COPD-related functional decline.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate strength and fatigability of distal leg muscles (dorsiflexors, plantar flexors) and quadriceps in COPD patients versus healthy controls.
  • To compare muscle responses after a standardized exercise challenge.
  • To determine if COPD affects peripheral muscle endurance.

Main Methods:

  • Fifteen COPD patients and 15 age-matched healthy controls underwent a 12-minute treadmill exercise (40 Kcal expenditure).
  • Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and potentiated twitch force (Twpot) of dorsiflexors, plantar flexors, and quadriceps were measured at rest and post-exercise.
  • Muscle strength and force loss were analyzed to assess fatigability.

Main Results:

  • COPD patients showed significantly lower resting MVC and Twpot in dorsiflexors, plantar flexors, and quadriceps compared to controls.
  • Distal leg muscles exhibited greater post-exercise force loss in COPD patients.
  • Quadriceps strength remained stable in both groups post-exercise, unlike distal leg muscles.

Conclusions:

  • COPD is associated with weakness in distal leg muscles (dorsiflexors and plantar flexors) compared to healthy individuals.
  • Distal leg muscles in COPD patients demonstrate higher fatigability after an absolute walking task.
  • These findings highlight peripheral muscle dysfunction beyond the quadriceps in COPD, impacting functional capacity.