ABSTRACT
Evaluate the relationship between skeletal muscle strength and severity of the airflow obstruction in patients with COPD This study included sixty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] classified into two groups [25 patients don't received steroid and 35 patient received steroid] and thirty sedentary, non smoker, healthy male as a control group. All patients and control group are subjected to Plain X ray chest, pulmonary function tests, [cross sectional area] CSA-CT scan and isokinetic measurement of [Quadriceps, Hamstring] muscles for lower limb and [shoulder abductor and adductor] muscles for upper limb. the results of this study showed that Force Expiratory Volume in one sec. FEV-1], Forced Vital Capacity FVC and PaO2 mmHg in the patients with COPD were significantly lower than control group [p<0.05]. Also, isokinetic measurement of muscles [peak torque] PT of the patients with COPD was significantly lower than control group [p<0.05]. Muscle cross section area CSA was significantly decrease in patients with COPD than control group p<0.05. Pulmonary function tests showed no significant differences in steroid and non steroid treated COPD groups. While, isokinetic measurement of muscles [peak torque] PT significantly decrease in patients received steroid than patients don't received steroid COPD group where [p<0.05]. There was relationship between COPD and muscle strength deficit which can be evaluated using isokinetic dynamometry measurement