Evaluation of THE GROCERY SHELVING TASK as the Assessment of the Motor Function of Upper-limbs in Patients with COPD

Abstract

Purpose: This study’s primary purpose was to verify the relationship between the cardiopulmonary response on a grocery shelving task (GST) and the motor function of the upper limbs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The secondary purpose was to evaluate the usefulness of the GST in the assessment of these patients’ upper-limbs motor function. Methods: We measured the respiratory gas exchange, heart rate and blood pressure and evaluated the modified Borg scale scores during both the GST and a UIULXT (unsupported incremental upper limb exercise test) in 10 COPD patients (mean age 75 ± 9 yrs) and 10 healthy elderly subjects (69 ± 10 yrs). We analyzed the relationships among the GST performance and respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, grip strength, PFSDQ-M (pulmonary functional status and dyspnea questionnairemodified) score, m-MRC (the modified medical research council scale), and physical activity of the upper limbs and the whole body. Result: The exercise intensity achieved by the patients on the GST was 2.3 ± 1.1 METs. Their values of V˙CO₂/kg, systolic blood pressure, SpO₂, and modified Borg scale were significantly lower than their UIULXT scores. The time needed to complete the GST (GST time) was 44.1 ± 10.7 s in the COPD patients and 38.9 ± 3.7 s in the healthy elderly subjects. The GST time, grip strength and physical activity of the upper limbs were positively correlated, whereas the GST time and the values of PFSDQM and m-MRC were negatively correlated. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the GST is a relatively small-load assessment test for COPD patients and that the GST could be used to accurately evaluate the dyspnea, fatigue and physical activity of the upper limbs in COPD patients’ activities of daily living.