Impact of Muscle Afferent Feedback During Exercise in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Recently, direct evidences point to the contributing role of peripheral muscle fatigue in exercise tolerance among patients with COPD. However, the physiological mechanisms by which peripheral muscle fatigue impairs exercise tolerance are still unknown, as factors regulating peripheral muscle fatigue in COPD may be complex. One possible link between limb muscle fatigue and exercise intolerance could be enhanced afferent signals from the active limb muscles to the central command, thereby limiting central motor output and eventually leading to exercise termination. A direct method to investigate the regulation of peripheral muscle fatigue during exercise in patients with COPD is the blockade of peripheral neural afferents via lumbar anesthesia. Consequently, investigating the interplay between the peripheral muscular component and the central motor command during self-paced exercise could shed light on the regulation of peripheral muscle fatigue in COPD and its implication in exercise intolerance.