Physiology of Walking in Patients with Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

The 6 MWT was performed at a relatively higher intensity in patients with COPD compared with healthy controls. The progressive fall in the sEMG median frequency of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris in both groups suggested the occurrence of a muscle fatiguing profile during walking. The performance of a daily activity such as walking imposes a high physiological demand in patients with COPD.