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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess gait symmetry/asymmetry using a tri-axial accelerometer in elderly COPD. Methods: Gait symmetry/asymmetry wasevaluated in 16 elderly COPD (age; 71.3±9.2 years, FEV 1 ; 58.4±20.1%pred), 17 healthy subjects(age; 63.4±2.0 years) and 16 stroke patients with hemiplegia(age; 54.9±12.3 years) as for control. They performed 10m walking twice wearing a tri-axial accelerometer (MG-M1110, LSI Medience, Japan) attached to the back at lower lumbar spine (L3). Medio-lateral and vertical acceleration during walking were expressed as continuous waveforms and the bilateral surrounded area by waveforms was compared as Lissajous Index (LI). LI of 0 indicates perfect symmetry. Pulmonary function, leg muscle strength and one-leg standing test (OLST) were evaluated. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were used for the relative reliabilities of LIs of COPD and stroke patients. Results: ICCs of COPD and stroke patients were 0.934 (p Conclusion: LI measured by a tri-axial accelerometer evaluated gait symmetry/asymmetry accurately and might be clinically useful for the evaluation of balance in elderly COPD patients.

Background: The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is commonly used in frail older people and in screening for sarcopenia. In general older population, the SPPB relates to functional exercise capacity and skeletal muscle function. However, it has been unclear whether SPPB score is associated with physical activity (PA) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of SPPB as an assessment tool for PA in elderly patients with stable COPD. Methods: In twelve patients with COPD (Age 69.9±8.9years, FEV 1 48.8±26.4%pred), SPPB score, spirometry, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), quadriceps strength (QS), one leg standing (OLS), physical activity (PA: steps/day), health status (COPD Assessment Test; CAT), nutritional status (body mass index; BMI), and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea (mMRC) score were measured. Correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether SPPB score was associated with PA in COPD. Results: SPPB score (10.3±2.2) was significantly correlated with PA (4619.3±2753.3steps/day, r=.649, p=.042), age (r=.824, p=.002), mMRC score (2.0±0.7, r=.746, p=.021), OLS (33.4±21.0sec, r=.716, p=.020), and 6MWD (424.7±164.3m, r=.664, p=.036). While, SPPB score was not significantly correlated with FEV 1 (r=.237, p=.539), QS (66.6±16.6%body weight, r=.266, p=.458), CAT (15.7±4.7, r=.142, p=.695), and BMI (21.1±2.1kg/m 2 , r=.363, p=.302). Conclusions: The SPPB that is a valid, simple and practical assessment tool might be associated with physical activity, dyspnea, exercise capacity, and balance in patients with elderly COPD in home-based or clinical setting.