Good repeatability ( for the 6MWT and ESWT ) and reproducibility ( for the 6MWT , 12-minute walk test , ISWT , ESWT , and incremental cycle ergometer test ) were reported by most studies assessing these tests , providing patients were familiarized with them beforeh and .
The 6MWT , ISWT , and particularly the ESWT were reported to be sensitive to therapeutic intervention .
Exercise tests are often used to evaluate the functional status of patients with COPD .
However , to the best of our knowledge , a comprehensive systematic comparison of these tests has not been performed .
We systematic ally review ed studies reporting the repeatability and /or reproducibility of these tests , and studies comparing their sensitivity to therapeutic intervention .
Advantages of endurance treadmill walking compared with cycling to assess bronchodilator therapy.
BACKGROUND Walking is a familiar daily activity that is generally limited by breathlessness , whereas cycling is an uncommon physical effort typically limited by leg discomfort . The hypothesis was that patients with COPD would exhibit greater improvements in exercise endurance and relief of breathlessness with bronchodilator therapy during treadmill walking compared with cycling . METHODS In this r and omized , 2 x 2 , double-blind , placebo-controlled , crossover trial , 20 patients with COPD ( age , 64 + /- 7 years ; FEV(1 ) , 56 + /- 14 % predicted ) performed constant-load endurance exercise on the treadmill and cycle ergometer at 85 % of capacity after inhaling normal saline ( NS ) or arformoterol ( ARF ) ( 15 microg ) . RESULTS Increases in endurance times and consistency of responses were greater with treadmill walking ( Delta : 157 + /- 286 s ; P = .024 ; 80 % improved ) than with cycle exercise ( Delta : 110 + /- 219 s ; P = .038 ; 65 % improved ) with ARF compared with NS . However , these changes were not significantly different . The slope of breathlessness-time ( mean Delta = -29 % ; P = .007 ) and the magnitude of oxygen desaturation were significantly lower with ARF compared with NS during treadmill , but not cycle , exercise . Inspiratory capacity values were similar between modes of exercise when comparing the same study medication . CONCLUSIONS Improved endurance times support both constant-load treadmill and cycle exercise to assess the efficacy of bronchodilator therapy in patients with COPD . Unique differences in physiologic and perceptual responses with bronchodilation demonstrate advantages of treadmill walking as an exercise stimulus . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov ; Identifier : NCT00754546
Good repeatability ( for the 6MWT and ESWT ) and reproducibility ( for the 6MWT , 12-minute walk test , ISWT , ESWT , and incremental cycle ergometer test ) were reported by most studies assessing these tests , providing patients were familiarized with them beforeh and .
The 6MWT , ISWT , and particularly the ESWT were reported to be sensitive to therapeutic intervention .
Exercise tests are often used to evaluate the functional status of patients with COPD .
However , to the best of our knowledge , a comprehensive systematic comparison of these tests has not been performed .
We systematic ally review ed studies reporting the repeatability and /or reproducibility of these tests , and studies comparing their sensitivity to therapeutic intervention .