Locomotor rehabilitation index: a new parameter for pulmonary rehabilitation

Patients with locomotor and cardiorespiratory disorders show an important reduction on self-selected walking speed (SSWS) in relation to optimal walking speed (OWS, the speed where the metabolic cost is minimal). The locomotor rehabilitation index (LRI) is a parameter capable of evaluating the ratio between the SSWS and the OWS. Nevertheless, the possible effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on LRI remain unclear for individuals with COPD. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of PR on locomotor functional parameters and LRI, as well related these functional parameters against the LRI in critical COPD subjects. Twelve individuals (FEV1: 0.9 ± 0.1 L; 34.3 ± 7.1%pred; FEV1/FVC: 43.4 ± 9.6%) agreed to take part in the 20 PR sessions composed by combined strength and endurance cycle ergometer training, 3 times/week with 2 h duration. The SSWS was evaluated during 15 meters test, and OWS was estimated by “Froude number” to calculate the LRI ((SSWS * OWS −1 ) * 100). SSWS increased 8.4% (4.1 ± 0.6 vs 4.5 ± 0.7 km * h −1 , LRI 8.9% (79.0 ± 12.5 vs 86.0 ± 15.4%, 6MWT distance 16,6% (320 ± 128 vs 373 ± 113 meters) and daily number steps 90% (3122 ± 2161 vs 5936 ± 3871 steps) (P