Respiratory Muscle Fatigue and Lower Extremity Muscle Oxygenation

Examining the Relationship Between Respiratory Muscle Fatigue and Lower Extremity Muscle Oxygenation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

In our study, changes in vastus lateralis muscle oxygenation will be evaluated with the Moxy device, a functional infrared oxygen measurement device, during the inspiratory muscle fatigue protocol in COPD cases and the healthy control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having a diagnosis of Stage 2-3 COPD according to the following clinical diagnostic criteria according to the American Thoracic and European Respiratory Societies (ATS-ERS).
• Having been using the same medications for the last 4 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with severe comorbid diseases, unstable coronary artery disease, collagen vascular diseases and requiring high-flow oxygen therapy (˃ 3-4 L\min).
• Presence of any vascular problem that may affect lower extremity muscle oxygenation
• Presence of another respiratory system disease other than COPD
• Patients who have had an acute COPD exacerbation in the last 4 weeks
• Patients experiencing COPD exacerbations during the study protocol
• Presence of fatty tissue or scar tissue at the measurement points, which may impair the measurement quality.
• Have already participated in another clinical trial within the last 30 days that may affect the results of the study.

Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Cases

• Being over 18 years of age
• Not having any diagnosed chronic disease
• Not being a smoker