Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
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J Cardiopulm Rehabil · Nov 2003
Comparative StudyA new unsupported upper limb exercise test for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
PURPOSE This study aimed to develop a new unsupported upper limb exercise test (UULEX) for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ The findings suggest that the new UULEX test is a reproducible and acceptable exercise test for patients with COPD that can be used as a simple method to evaluate upper limb function in these patients. Further studies are required to determine the external validity of the test and its sensitivity to interventions such as pulmonary rehabilitation.