Muscle Activity and Sensation During Upright Partitioned Leg Exercise in COPD

Leg Muscle Activity and Sensation During Upright Partitioned Exercise Compared to Walking: Propulsion of a 3-wheeled Scooter by Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The aim of this study is to determine if: the large muscles of the leg, activated during walking, are also active during scooting; whether scooting alters the relationship between leg and breathing heaviness; whether there is evidence of leg fatigue during scooting.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of COPD: FEV1 < 80 % and FEV1/FVC < 0.7;
• Able to communicate in English
• Clinically stable

Exclusion Criteria:

• predominant co-morbidities or treatments that might influence the results of exercise testing