Open AccessSkeletal muscle abnormalities in patients with COPD: contribution to exercise intolerance
Author(s) -
Isabelle Serres,
Maurice Hayot,
Christian Préfaut,
Jacques Mercier
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
medicine and science in sports and exercise
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.703
H-Index - 224
eISSN - 1530-0315
pISSN - 0195-9131
DOI - 10.1097/00005768-199807000-00001
Subject(s) - exercise intolerance , skeletal muscle , copd , medicine , deconditioning , muscle biopsy , cardiology , endurance training , physical therapy , endocrinology , biopsy , heart failure
Exercise intolerance in COPD patients appears to be in part because of skeletal muscle dysfunction. Studies using biopsy techniques and magnetic resonance spectroscopy have demonstrated changes in enzyme activities and metabolism that indicate reduced oxidative capacity in the peripheral muscles of these patients. Regarding the respiratory muscles, the biochemical characteristics have been studied in only a few works and the results seem to depend on the specific muscle group studied. Several factors, such as hypoxemia, nutritional status, pharmacological treatment, and deconditioning, may be responsible for these skeletal muscle abnormalities. This brief review describes the changes in peripheral and respiratory muscles in COPD patients based on data from the literature. The causes of these muscle abnormalities, their contribution to exercise intolerance, and the effects of training are then discussed. We conclude with suggested directions for future investigation using contemporary noninvasive technologies.