Investigation of Walking Training With Different Slope Types in COPD Patients

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Downhill walking training: For 8 weeks, downhill walking training will be done 2 times a week at a slope of -10 degrees.

Level walking training: For 8 weeks, level walking training will be done 2 times a week at a slope of 0 degrees.

Uphill walking training: For 8 weeks, uphill walking training will be done 2 times a week at a slope of +10 degrees.

Study summary

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease that continues to generate a great deal of research and this research must continue, both because it is not completely curable and because of the large patient population. The importance and benefits of exercise training in COPD patients are clear. One of the most preferred types of exercise training is the so-called aerobic exercise training, which typically takes the form of walking. A typical walking training does not use a slope or may include an uphill slope. However, recently there have been publications about downhill walking and its benefits in COPD. Walking on a level, uphill, and downhill slope may have the potential to result in different gains by using different muscle groups more. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of walking training on exercise capacity, respiratory functions, muscle strength, and functional status in COPD patients with three different slope types: level, uphill, and downhill.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• 6 Minutes Walking Distance (6MWD) — Up to 8 weeks.
  6 MWD means the distance traveled in 6 MWT. Its unit is meters.
• Spirometric measurements (Forced vital capacity) — Up to 8 weeks.
  It is used to evaluate respiratory functions. It is evaluated with a spirometer. Forced vital capacity (FVC): the maximum amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after fully inhaling. It can be recorded in percentages or liters.
• Spirometric measurements (First second forced expiratory volume) — Up to 8 weeks.
  It is used to evaluate respiratory functions. It is evaluated with a spirometer. First-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1): the amount of air that can be exhaled with force in 1 second. It can be recorded in percentages or liters.
• Spirometric measurements (FEV1/FVC ratio) — Up to 8 weeks.
  It is used to evaluate respiratory functions. It is evaluated with a spirometer. It is calculated by dividing FEV1 by FVC. It is expressed as a percentage.
• Spirometric measurements (Peak Expiratory Flow) — Up to 8 weeks.
  It is used to evaluate respiratory functions. It is evaluated with a spirometer. Peak expiratory flow (PEF) is the maximum flow achieved during a forced expiration starting from the level of maximal lung inflation. It can be recorded in percentages or liters.
• Spirometric measurements (Maximum Intermediate Expiratory Flow) — Up to 8 weeks.
  It is used to evaluate respiratory functions. It is evaluated with a spirometer. Maximum Intermediate Expiratory Flow (FEF25-75) is the flow (or speed) of air coming out of the lung during the middle portion of a forced expiration. It can be recorded in percentages or liters.
• Muscle strength measurements (skeletal muscles) — Up to 8 weeks.
  Hip extension, knee extension, and ankle extension muscle strength will be measured with a handheld dynamometer. The results are recorded in Newtons.
• Muscle strength measurements (respiratory muscles) — Up to 8 weeks.
  The strength of the respiratory muscles will be assessed and recorded as maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) with a device that allows the measurement of intraoral pressures, which is an indirect indicator of the strength of these muscles. In this device, measurements are based on recording the highest average pressure sustained for one second during inspiration and expiration against a closed valve. Measurements are recorded in cmH2O.
• 30-second sit and stand test — Up to 8 weeks.
  The result is the total number of stands within 30 seconds.
• Functional performance inventory — Up to 8 weeks.
  It is a valid and reliable measurement tool used to assess functional performance in COPD patients. It consists of 6 sub-dimensions (body care, household maintenance, physical exercise, recreation, spiritual activities, social activities) and a total of 65 items. The questions are answered by choosing from the following options: "I can do the activity easily without any difficulty (3 points), I can do it with some difficulty (2 points), I can do it with much difficulty (1 point), I can no longer do this activity due to my health reasons (0 points), I do not prefer it (0 points)" and are scored according to the specified scores. Each sub-dimension and total performance is calculated as an average. The lowest score is 0 and the highest score is 3. Higher score means better functional performance. Turkish validation study of the questionnaire in COPD patients was conducted.

Trial sites (1)

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