Investigation of Gait Parameters and Balance in Patients With Obstructive Lung Diseases

Patients with COPD call walking as one of the most problematic activities in daily life. Patients with COPD walk less in daily life than their healthy peers. Gait characteristics of extrapulmonary comorbidities that probably affect the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system vary. The gait assessment gives an idea about the biomechanical factors associated with a reduction in walking distance in COPD patients. In patients with COPD, after the onset of shortness of breath or leg fatigue, a decrease in cadence during walking, shortened stride length, an increase in the time spent in the double support period, an increase in the peak ankle dorsi flexion moment is observed. During gait, there is an increase in balance disorders in the mediolateral direction. In addition, patients with COPD walk on a constant speed treadmill with more stride time and less step width variability. Studies have shown that patients with COPD have increased temporal walking characteristics, decreased step and stride length, and increased walking variability.

In the literature, most of the studies that examine gait characteristics and balance separately or examine the relationship between them are on patients with COPD. No study examining gait parameters in other obstructive pulmonary patients such as bronchiectasis and asthma has been found. A persuasive link between walking disorders and falls in COPD patients is still unknown and further research is needed. This study will contribute to clarifying the mechanisms of why the balance studied in patients with COPD is adversely affected.