Studying How Walking on Different Slopes Affects Balance in Adults with COPD During Aerobic Exercise Training

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how different types of walking slopes during aerobic exercise affect balance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. COPD affects not only the lungs but also balance, which is important for overall safety and mobility. The study aims to explore whether walking uphill, downhill, or on a level surface as part of pulmonary rehabilitation can improve balance differently in these patients. Participants will be divided into three groups using random assignment one group will walk uphill at a 10-degree slope, another downhill at a -10-degree slope using a special wooden wedge under the treadmill, and the third group will walk on a level surface with no incline. All groups will participate in an 8-week training program, walking twice a week on a treadmill. Each session includes warming up, the main walking exercise with speed and duration adjusted based on a baseline 6-minute walking test, and cooling down. Throughout the study, participants will be assessed at the start and after 8 weeks using tests that measure postural stability, limits of stability, and sensory integration of balance. These assessments will help determine how each type of slope during walking affects balance in COPD patients. The whole process is designed to monitor progress carefully while participants follow the exercise program under medical supervision.

The Effect of Gait Training Using Different Slope Types on Balance in COPD Patients