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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background/aim: Impairments in spatiotemporal gait characteristics have been observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, arm swing characteristics—a fundamental component of gait that play a key role in maintaining gait stability and energy efficiency—have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait, together with arm swing patterns, in patients with COPD.

Materials and methods: A total of 20 patients with COPD (aged 40–65 years) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) participated in this cross-sectional study. Spatiotemporal gait characteristics and arm swing data were recorded using a motion capture system equipped with eight near-infrared cameras during a 6 min walk.

Results: Stride and step length, step time and width, gait speed, and cadence were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). The swing phase ratio was higher in patients with COPD, whereas the gait cycle and stance phase ratios were higher in the HC (p < 0.05). The magnitude and total angular displacement of arm swings were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). In patients with COPD, the right and left arm swings were similar across both the flexion–extension and abduction–adduction axes (p > 0.05), whereas significant right– left differences were observed in the HC group (p < 0.05). Posture quality was significantly poorer in patients with COPD (p < 0.05). The types and presence of scapular dyskinesia were similar between the groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Due to postural impairments and disease-related compensatory adaptations, a more abducted and symmetrical arm swing pattern was observed in patients with COPD. An asymmetrical arm swing pattern was observed in the HC group. These results highlight the importance of assessing and addressing upper extremity movements within rehabilitation programs to optimize gait efficiency and functional mobility.

Author ORCID Identifier

HİDAYE YAMIKAN: 0000-0002-8850-8241

NİHAT ÖZGÖREN: 0000-0002-4666-7252

SERDAR ARITAN: 0000-0001-6430-3156

OĞUZ KARCIOĞLU: 0000-0002-6071-0851

AYNUR DEMİREL: 0000-0002-5773-6292

DOI

10.55730/1300-0144.6112

Keywords

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Gait, gait analysis

First Page

1540

Last Page

1551

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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