Tests of the functional performance of patients with COPD: A proposal for the application of the Expanded Timed ‘Get Up and Go Test’ (ETGUG)
Journal Title: Rehabilitacja Medyczna - Year 2010, Vol 14, Issue 1
Abstract
The testing of physical performance is not a common practice in the treatment of patients with COPD. Only a 6-minute walking test (6MWT) is more often used in the diagnosis and evaluation of the results of rehabilitation conducted in specialist pulmonary clinics. The use of other tests either directly or indirectly assessing physical performance is generally limited to research units. The state of knowledge about the conditioning and consequences of COPD point to the necessity of evaluating physical performance, while in the case of conducting pulmonary rehabilitation it should constitute a routine procedure. Without doubt the 6MWT and other tests presented in the paper should be widely used, though there exists the need to find other activity tests easier to conduct amongst patients with an advanced form of COPD, who have difficulty with effectively carrying out the 6MWT. An interesting proposition appears to be in this case Expanded Timed ‘Get Up and Go Test’ (ETGUG) which has previously not been used with COPD patients. The possibility of relating the results to the strength and endurance of the muscles of the lower limbs, to the ability of maintaining balance as well as physical activity typical for everyday life, corresponds to the pathological changes and limitations encountered in COPD. Research into the TUG test shows that it may be used in patients with COPD, however the extremely short walking distance in this test limits the possibility for result interpretation to an evaluation of the ability to stand from a seated position and to sit as well as the ability to maintain balance. It appears that a 20 metre walking distance for the ETGUG test would be sufficient to assess the walking abilities of patients with COPD, particularly for groups with advanced stages III and IV of the disease according to GOLD. Hence it is necessary to examine the ETGUG test in relation to its validity, reliability and responsiveness for patients with COPD.
Authors and Affiliations
Janusz Bromboszcz, Tomasz Włoch
The Development of Medical Care in Polish Paralympic Sport
Precursory preparticipation examination among athletes took place during the interwar period of the 20th century at university centres, which laid the foundation for present sports and medical counselling. The first stud...
Ocena wpływu biegów rekreacyjnych na wzorzec obciążania przodostopia w fazie odbicia
Wstęp: Charakterystyczne dla człowieka formy lokomocji to chód oraz jego szybsza forma, czyli bieg. Podstawowa cecha chodu polegająca na cyklicznie następujących po sobie fazach wymachu i podporu jest wspólna dla chodu i...
Testy prowokacyjne stosowane w diagnostyce zespołu cieśni nadgarstka
Zespół cieśni nadgarstka (ZCN) jest najczęściej rozpoznawaną neuropatią uciskową kończyny górnej. Na skutek zmian w obrębie kanału nadgarstka nerw pośrodkowy wykazuje nadwrażliwość na działanie niektórych czynników zewnę...
From the treadmill to the exoskeleton. Evolution of mechanical gait assistance methods
Limited independent walking and the resulting disabilities are a serious issue for a growing group of patients. These patients are often dependent on a wheelchair, or are bedridden until the end of their lives. For this...
Testy diagnostyczne stosowane w rozpoznawaniu zespołu kanału nadgarstka
W 1854 roku Paget po raz pierwszy napisał, że zespół kanału nadgarstka jest wynikiem ucisku nerwu pośrodkowego w kanale nadgarstka. Do charakterystycznych objawów możemy zaliczyć parestezje o typie mrowienia, zdrętwienia...