Abstract
Background: There are no recommendations on how to measure arm exercise capacity in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objectives of this study were to: (i) synthesize the literature on measures of arm exercise capacity in individuals with COPD; (ii) describe the psychometric properties and the target construct of each measure and (iii) make recommendations for clinical practice and research.
Methods: Studies conducted in COPD that included a measure of arm exercise capacity were identified after searches of 5 electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Cochrane Library) and reference lists of pertinent articles. One reviewer performed data extraction and two assessed quality of studies that described measurement properties using the Consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instrument.
Results: Of 654 reports, 41 met the study criteria. Five types of arm exercise tests were indentified: arm ergometry, ring shifts, dowel lifts, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, and activities of daily living (ADL) tests. Four studies assessed measurement properties of the Unsupported Upper Limb Exercise test (UULEX), 6-minute Pegboard and Ring test (6PBRT), a test involving weight shifts and the Grocery Shelving Task (GST). Validity studies were of fair to good quality, whereas reliability studies were of poor quality.
Conclusions: Arm ergometry may be best for measuring peak arm exercise capacity and endurance during supported exercises, while the UULEX, 6PBRT and GST may better reflect ADL and should be the tests of choice to measure peak unsupported arm exercise capacity (UULEX) and arm function (6PBRT and GST).
- © 2011 ERS