Muscle weakness is an observable consequence of limb muscle dysfunction in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this review is to describe clinically applicable methods of muscle strength testing and functional tests that are associated with muscle strength in people with COPD.
Several tests and devices for evaluating muscle strength have been described in COPD. Isometric quadriceps strength testing, which is associated with clinical outcomes in COPD, can be reliably tested using fixed dynamometers or strain gauges in clinical and laboratory settings. Functional tests that are correlated with muscle strength in COPD include the Stair Climb Power Test, Sit-to-Stand test, and Timed Up and Go test. These tests are easy to conduct in the clinical setting and are relevant to daily activities; however, performance depends on factors such as balance and coordination in addition to leg muscle strength.
Muscle strength assessment should be considered an integral part of the evaluation of people with COPD. Clinicians and researchers can select from a variety of valid and reliable tests to evaluate muscle strength based on their available resources and goals of the patient.
1Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto ON, Canada
2School of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS, Canada
3Centre de recherche de l' Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
4Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
5Département de réadaptation, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
Correspondence: Sunita Mathur, PT, PhD, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Avenue, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada (sunita.mathur@utoronto.ca).
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
