• Michael C Steiner, Sally J Singh, and Michael D L Morgan.
• Institute for Lung Health, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK. michael.steiner@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
• J Cardiopulm Rehabil. 2005 Jan 1;25(1):43-9.

PurposeThe contribution of muscle strength and mass to incremental and endurance walking performance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown. This study analyzes the relationship between field incremental and endurance walking performance and indices of peripheral muscle mass and strength.MethodsEighty-five stable COPD patients (53 males; mean [SD] age = 67 [9] years; mean [SD] forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] = 35 [14] [% predicted]) were studied prior to participation in pulmonary rehabilitation. Isometric quadriceps and handgrip strength were measured. Total body and lower limb lean muscle mass were estimated using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Exercise performance was measured using the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) and the endurance (ESWT) shuttle walk test.ResultsISWT was related to muscle strength (r = 0.467, P ConclusionsWe conclude that muscle strength is related to incremental but not endurance shuttle walking performance. Muscle mass and strength are not synonymous in their effects on exercise performance in patients with COPD.

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