The Kinematic Chain of Arm Elevation Is Impaired in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographics, anthropometrics and lung function of patients with COPD and healthy controls.

	Patients with COPD (n = 15)	Healthy controls (n = 15)	p-Value
Age (years)	67.9 ± 9.8	66.8 ± 7.5	0.723
Sex (female), n (%)	2 (13%)	8 (53%)	0.050
Height (cm)	166.0 ± 6.2	160.9 ± 8.6	0.072
Weight (kg)	77.4 ± 18.0	72.5 ± 10.4	0.368
BMI (kg/m^2)	28.0 ± 5.6	28.0 ± 3.3	0.998
FEV1
Value (L)	1.7 ± 0.5	2.3 ± 0.5	0.007*
% pred	66 ± 18	101 ± 15	<0.001*
FVC
Value (L)	2.6 ± 0.8	2.8 ± 0.6	0.969
% pred	75 ± 18	91.53 ± 15	0.011*

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation, unless otherwise stated.

BMI, body mass index; FEV₁, forced expired volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; GOLD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease; % pred, percentage predicted. *Significant at p < 0.05.

Figure 1. Angular measurements performed with the arms at rest (left), arms parallel to the ground and at full shoulder flexion (right), showing the upper and lower thoracic spine angles (°) and shoulder ROM (°).

Table 2. Mean differences (±95% confidence intervals) in thoracic spine angles between patients with COPD and controls in the three arm elevation positions tested.

Arm elevation position	Mean between-group differences (95% CI) in thoracic spine angles (in degrees)
	Upper	Lower	Kyphosis
Rest	−0.9 (−5.3 – 3.5)	−1.9 (−6.1 – 2.3)	1.4 (−4.2 – 7.5)
90°	−1.2 (−6.7 – 4.3)	−3.2 (−7.9 – 1.4)	2.0 (−3.5 – 7.8)
Full	−0.1 (−4.9 – 4.8)	−4.5 (−10.0 – −0.9)	5.9* (0.3 – 11.5)

*p = 0.015, interaction effect (group × arm elevation).

Table 3. Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) between head, thoracic spine and shoulder girdle measurements in the standing upright position and full range of arm elevation motion.

	Full range of arm elevation motion
	COPD (n = 15)	Controls (n = 15)	Total (n = 30)
Forward head posture	.05 (.872)	−.09 (.745)	−.08 (.675)
Upper thoracic spine angle	−.55* (.032)	−.65* (.009)	−.47* (.009)
Lower thoracic spine angle	.03 (.094)	.33 (.225)	.21 (.276)
Full thoracic spine angle (Thoracic kyphosis)	−.60* (.019)	−.63* (.012)	−.58* (.001)
Forward scapular posture	−.44 (.103)	−.15 (.602)	−.10 (.568)
Scapula index	.50 (.061)	.23 (.419)	.37* (.043)

Values are presented as r (p). *p < 0.05.