Static Balance Is Affected Following an Exercise Task in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

In Brief PURPOSE To investigate balance following a submaximal exercise task (6-minute walk test [6MWT]) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS A consecutive sample of 19 patients with COPD from an institutional pulmonary rehabilitation program served as participants. The following measures were recorded before and following a 6MWT: (1) timed-up and go (TUG) test, (2) step-up test, and (3) quiet standing for 30 seconds with eyes open and closed in a narrow and semi-tandem stance. Displacement of the body at the level of the waist was recorded using a swaymeter. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model. RESULTS In the semi-tandem stance with eyes closed post-6MWT, increases in total sway (165.9 mm vs 240.0 mm, P…