Força muscular de quadríceps, distância percorrida e capacidade pulmonar em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the quadriceps muscle strength and its relation with lung capacity in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), as well the functional capacity and its repercussionon the functionality. Methods: Forty volunteers, twenty with a diagnosis of COPD (group 1) and twenty healthy (group 2). The peak force (PF) of the quadriceps muscle was measured using MicroFET? 2 portable dynamometer (Hoggan Health Industries, West Jordan, UT, USA), in high threshold mode. Pulmonary capacity was assessed through the 6-Minutes Walk Test (6MWT). Results: Patients with COPD were classified on average (61%) as GOLD II, according the FEV1/FVC values. The mean age of the sample was 61 ± 7 years and BMI of 25±4 kg.m-2. Only 10% of group 1 practice physical activity and, consequently, obtained values lower of FP (106 ± 33 N) when compared to group 2 (163 ± 45 N) (p <0.05). The same was observed in the 6MWT, where group 1 ran an average of 356 ± 58 m and group 2 380 ± 106 m (p <0.05). Conclusions: Individuals with COPD assessed had a loss of quadriceps muscle strength, as well as a shorter distance than healthy participants at 6MWT, which demonstrates limited lung capacity with functional decline and low exercise tolerance.