| Healthy elderly controls | COPD patients |
QMVC kg | 49±13 | 22±10** |
QMVC % pred | 110±29 | 63±27** |
QTlim min | 30±0 | 6.9±5.3** |
QTlim-final fEMG % initial | 99±12 | 87±13** |
QTlim-V'O2max mL·kg−1·min−1 | 9.6±3.6 | 8.5±2.2 |
QTlim‐ΔV'O2 rest versus end | 242±197 | 164±123 |
QTlim‐HRmax beat·min−1 | 118±22 | 96±16** |
QTlim‐HRmax % pred | 59±11 | 63±14 |
QTlim‐ΔHR rest versus end | 43±26 | 22±23 |
QTlim‐V'Emax L·min−1 | 34±17 | 31±12 |
QTlim‐V'Emax % pred | 18±9 | 55±6** |
QTlim‐dyspnoea end VAS | 1±1 | 5±3** |
QTlim‐thigh discomfort VAS | 6±2 | 10±0** |
Thigh length cm | 39.9±1.0 | 40.9±2.8 |
Thigh perimeter cm | 49.1±4.1 | 44.6±6.4 |