title: Quadriceps muscle endurance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare quadriceps muscle strength (maximal voluntary contraction, MVC), endurance (T(LIM)), and dynamic work capacity (W(LIM)) in 89 patients (57 men and 32 women) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to 31 healthy controls (20 men and 11 women). Compared with the healthy subjects, COPD patients demonstrated statistically significant (P < 0.05) lower values for MVC, T(LIM) and W(LIM). The MVC was 20-30% lower, whereas T(LIM) and W(LIM) were 70-80% lower in the patients. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that pulmonary function variables contributed only partially to the explanation of variance in MVC, T(LIM), and W(LIM). Our results indicate that in patients with COPD, quadriceps muscle endurance and dynamic work capacity are impaired to a greater extent than is quadriceps muscle strength. For rehabilitation purposes, the findings may lead to more specific exercise programs, further enhancing rehabilitation outcomes in terms of functional abilities and social participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. AJ.VTHUL@VUMC.NL
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van't Hul
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harlaar
authors.forename: Rik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gosselink
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hollander
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Postmus
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kwakkel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric