Higher skeletal muscular metabolic reserve capacity in COPD patients than healthy subjects

We investigated the interaction between skeletal muscle exercise capacity and central restrictions using exercise modalities, which recruit differing levels of muscle mass in eight patients chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) (FEV1% of predicted; 35 [SE 4%]) and eight healthy controls. Subjects performed conventional bicycling, two‐leg knee extensor (2‐KE) and single‐leg knee extensor (1‐KE) exercises. Maximal values for pulmonary V̇O2 (VO2max), power output, blood lactate, heart rate, blood pressure, and arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin were registered. VO2max in controls was 2453 (210), 1468 (124), and 976 (76) mL/min during bicycling, 2‐KE and 1‐KE, respectively. The COPD patients achieved 48% (P