Relationship of upper-limb and thoracic muscle strength to 6-min walk distance in COPD patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study was developed to investigate the influence of thoracic and upper-limb muscle function on 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in patients with COPD.


METHODS
A prospective, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
The pulmonary rehabilitation center of a university hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-eight patients with mild to very severe COPD were evaluated.


RESULTS
Pulmonary function and baseline dyspnea index (BDI) were assessed, handgrip strength, maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax), and 6MWD were measured, and the one-repetition maximum (1RM) was determined for each of four exercises (bench press, lat pull down, leg extension, and leg press) performed on gymnasium equipment. Quality of life was assessed using the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). We found statistically significant positive correlations between 6MWD and body weight (r = 0.32; p < 0.05), BDI (r = 0.50; p < 0.01), FEV(1) (r = 0.33; p < 0.05), Pimax (r = 0.53; p < 0.01), and all values of 1RM. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between 6MWD and dyspnea at the end of the 6-min walk test (r = - 0.29; p < 0.05), as well as between 6MWD and the SGRQ activity domain (r = - 0.45; p < 0.01) and impact domain (r = - 0.34; p < 0.05) and total score (r = - 0.40; p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis selected body weight, BDI, Pimax, and lat pull down 1RM as predictive factors for 6MWD (R(2) = 0.589).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study showed the importance of the skeletal musculature of the thorax and upper limbs in submaximal exercise tolerance and could open new perspectives for training programs designed to improve functional activity in COPD patients.
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, #70 Rua Antônio Sabino Santa Rosa, Apto. 13-C, Vila Santana, Botucatu CEP: 18606-140, Brazil. vzuniga@fmr.edu.br
Victor Zuniga
VZ
Dourado
Letícia Cláudia de Oliveira
LC
Antunes
Suzana Erico
SE
Tanni
Sergio Alberto Rupp
SA
de Paiva
Carlos Roberto
CR
Padovani
Irma
I
Godoy
D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*