The Effects of Manual Therapy on the Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Respiratory muscle strength will be determined by measuring maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) generated at the mouth using a mouth pressure device (Micro MPM; Micro Medical Ltd., Rochester, UK) with individual antibacterial and antiviral disposable filters.

For MIP measurement, participants will be instructed to perform a maximal expiration; after the application of a nose clip, they will then perform a maximal inspiration for 1-3 seconds. For MEP measurement, participants will be instructed to perform a maximal inspiration; after the application of a nose clip, they will then perform a maximal expiration for 1-3 seconds.

The tests will be repeated until no further improvement is observed and the difference between the two best values is less than 5%. The highest value will be recorded. Predicted normal values for respiratory muscle strength will be calculated using age- and sex-specific regression equations.

Peripheral muscle strength will be assessed using handgrip strength and the one-minute sit-to-stand test. Handgrip strength will be measured using a digital hand dynamometer (Baseline BIMS, Fabrication Enterprises Inc., USA).Participants will be instructed to grip the stabilized dynamometer with maximal force. Measurements will be repeated three times, and the highest value will be recorded.

Participants will be seated freely on a chair with a height of 46 cm, with the hips and knees flexed at 90°, arms crossed over the chest, and feet positioned at hip width. They will then be instructed to stand up and sit down as many times as possible within one minute at their self-selected pace, without altering body posture. The total number of repetitions will be recorded. This repetition count will be expressed as a percentage of predicted reference values adjusted for sex, height, body weight, and age.

Balance and postural sway will be assessed using a three-component force platform (Bertec Model BP 5050; Bertec Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, USA). Participants will be asked to stand barefoot on the force platform for 10 seconds while maintaining a quiet standing position with a stance width equal to their support base. Postural sway will be evaluated under four different conditions: eyes open and eyes closed on both firm and compliant surfaces. Based on the data, a stability score calculated by the device software will also be expressed as a percentage. Stability limits in the anterior, posterior, right, and left directions will be recorded in centimeters and expressed as percentages.

Surface electromyography will be used to assess accessory respiratory muscle activation using the Trigno™ system (Delsys Inc., Natick, MA, USA). Four channels will be utilized for data acquisition. To minimize signal crosstalk, electrode placement will be determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Surface Electromyography for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles (SENIAM) guidelines. Activation of the most commonly investigated accessory respiratory muscles will be assessed bilaterally at rest. The muscles evaluated will include the sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major, upper trapezius, and latissimus dorsi. A standardized maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) protocol will be applied for each muscle. EMG values will be normalized to the MVC obtained for the corresponding muscle and expressed as a percentage of MVC (%MVC).

Posture will be assessed observationally using the evaluation system developed by Corbin et al. Postural deviations will be scored as follows: 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe. Each region will be evaluated and scored individually, as well as cumulatively. Based on the total score, posture will be categorized into five levels: 0-2 points = excellent, 3-4 points = very good, 5-7 points = good, 8-11 points = fair, and ≥12 points = poor. Higher scores represents worsen posture.

Chest wall mobility will be assessed by manual measurement of thoracic expansion using tape. For upper thoracic mobility, the measuring tape will be positioned at the level of the sternal manubrium anteriorly and aligned posteriorly with the T2-T3 vertebrae. Measurement at the mid-thoracic level will be taken at the level of the xiphoid process anteriorly and the T6 vertebra posteriorly. For lower thoracic mobility, the tape will be placed at the level of the costal margin anteriorly and aligned posteriorly with the T10 vertebra. At each measurement level, participants will be instructed to perform maximal inspiration and maximal expiration, and the difference between these two measurements will be recorded as the thoracic expansion value. Measurements will be repeated three times at each level, and the mean of the obtained values will be used for analysis.

The Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) and Dyspnea-12 (D-12) will be used. The mMRC is a five-item scale developed based on various activities that provoke dyspnea. It will be used to assess the level of dyspnea in participants. Individuals will be asked to indicate the activity level that causes breathlessness on the scale. Higher mMRC scores indicate worse dyspnea severity.

The D-12 is a 12-item instrument that evaluates both the physical and emotional dimensions of breathlessness. Each item is scored on a 0-3 scale, with higher scores indicating more severe dyspnea. The Turkish validity and reliability of the questionnaire have been established.

COPD Assessment Test (CAT) will be used. The CAT is an eight-item, unidimensional measure of health status impairment in individuals with COPD. The total score ranges from 0 to 40. A cut-off score of 10 has been defined for the CAT. Higher CAT scores indicate worse symptom severity. Participants will be asked to select the option that best reflects their condition for each item.

Based on the impact of symptoms on daily life activities, total CAT scores are classified into five categories: >30 points indicate a very high level of impact, >20 points indicate a high level of impact, 10-20 points indicate a moderate level of impact, <10 points indicate a low level of impact, and a score of 5 points is considered the upper limit of normal impact in healthy never-smokers.

The GOLD ABE system will be used. A combined assessment system based on symptom evaluation, spirometric classification, and exacerbation risk is recommended for patients with COPD. According to this combined assessment, patients are categorized into groups A, B, and E.

• Group A: GOLD stage 1 or 2 (mild or moderate airflow limitation), and/or 0-1 exacerbations per year with no hospitalization due to exacerbation; CAT < 10 or mMRC grade 0-1.
• Group B: GOLD stage 1 or 2 (mild or moderate airflow limitation), and/or 0-1 exacerbations per year with no hospitalization due to exacerbation; CAT ≥ 10 or mMRC ≥ 2.
• Group E: GOLD stage 3 or 4 (severe or very severe airflow limitation), and/or ≥ 2 exacerbations per year or ≥ 1 exacerbation leading to hospitalization; mMRC 0-4 and CAT 0-40.

The BODE Index was developed to assess mortality risk in individuals with COPD. This multidimensional index incorporates body mass index (BMI), airway obstruction (FEV₁ % predicted), dyspnea (mMRC score), and exercise capacity assessed by the six-minute walk distance (6MWD).

BMI is scored as 0 for values > 21 kg/m² and 1 for values ≤ 21 kg/m². Airway obstruction, reflected by FEV₁ (% predicted), is scored as 0 for values ≥ 65%, 1 for 50-64%, 2 for 36-49%, and 3 for values ≤ 35%. Dyspnea severity based on mMRC scores is scored as 0 for grades 0-1, 1 for grade 2, 2 for grade 3, and 3 for grade 4. Finally, exercise capacity assessed by the 6MWD is scored as 0 for distances ≥ 350 m, 1 for 250-349 m, 2 for 150-249 m, and 3 for distances ≤ 149 m.

The total BODE score will be calculated by summing the scores obtained from each component. As the total BODE index score increases, the severity of COPD worsens, and prognosis and mortality risk deteriorate.

Quality of life will be assessed using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The Turkish validity and reliability of the questionnaire have been established. The SGRQ is a widely used instrument for individuals with chronic respiratory diseases and consists of three domains: symptoms, activities, and social/psychological impacts. The questionnaire includes a total of 50 items, and scores for each domain as well as the total score are calculated on a scale ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates no limitation or symptoms and 100 indicates the worst health status or maximum limitation. As the SGRQ total score increases, health-related quality of life deteriorates.

Individuals' physical activity levels will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). its Turkish validity and reliability were established. For an activity to be considered in the assessment, it must be performed for at least 10 minutes at a time. The IPAQ-SF provides information on time spent sitting, walking, engaging in moderate-intensity activities, and engaging in vigorous-intensity activities. A total score is calculated as MET-minutes per week by multiplying the duration (minutes), frequency (days), and MET (metabolic equivalent) value of each activity. According to the scoring system, physical activity level is classified as low if the total score is less than 600 MET-min/week, moderate if it ranges between 600 and 3000 MET-min/week, high if it exceeds 3000 MET-min/week. As the total IPAQ-SF score increases, the individual's physical activity level improves, with higher MET-minutes per week indicating greater physical activity.

The Nijmegen Questionnaire will be used to assess respiratory dysfunction and related symptoms. The Turkish validity and reliability of the questionnaire were established by Çakmak et al. (2023). The questionnaire includes 15 items covering respiratory dysfunctions and symptoms such as chest pain, feelings of tension, blurred vision, and shortness of breath. Participants will be asked to indicate the frequency that best represents each symptom on a 0-4 scale (0 = never, 4 = very often). A total score will be calculated. In the Nijmegen Questionnaire, higher total scores indicate greater severity and frequency of respiratory dysfunction symptoms, reflecting more pronounced dysfunctional breathing patterns.

Thoracic pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS separately evaluates pain at rest, during the night, and during activity. According to this scale, pain is rated on a horizontal straight line measuring 0-10 cm, with the patient marking the point that best represents their pain intensity, resulting in a score between 0 and 10. A score of 0 indicates no pain, whereas a score of 10 represents unbearable pain. Pain intensity will be recorded separately for rest, night-time, and activity-related pain.

In the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. An increase in the VAS score reflects worsening pain severity, with higher values representing more severe and intolerable pain at rest, during the night, or during activity.