Comparison of spatiotemporal and arm swing characteristics of gait between patients with COPD and healthy controls - Research Article

Sep 30, 2026

Impairments in spatiotemporal gait characteristics are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), yet arm swing patterns have received limited attention. This cross-sectional study examined gait spatiotemporal features and arm swing kinematics in 20 patients with COPD and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls during a 6-minute walk using motion capture with eight near-infrared cameras. Results showed distinct phase-ratio changes, poorer posture quality in COPD, and differences in arm swing symmetry compared with controls.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Background/aim

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

Key words

Introduction

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 55 Number 6 | Article 21 | | --- | --- | | 12-12-2025
Comparison of spatiotemporal and arm swing characteristics of gait between patients with COPD and healthy controls
HİDAYE YAMIKANNİHAT ÖZGÖREN SERDAR ARITANOĞUZ KARCIOĞLU AYNUR DEMİREL
Follow this and additional works at: [https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical](https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical)
Part of the Medical Sciences Commons | | Recommended Citation YAMIKAN, H, ÖZGÖREN, N, ARITAN, S, KARCIOĞLU, O, & DEMİREL, A (2025) . Comparison ofspatiotemporal and arm swing characteristics of gait between patients with COPD and healthy controls. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 55 (6): 1540-1551 . [https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0144.61](https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0144.61)12 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by TÜBİTAK Academic Journals. It has been accepted for inclusion in Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences by an authorized editor of TÜBİTAK Academic Journals. For more information, please contact [academic.publications@tubitak.gov.tr](academic.publications@tubitak.gov.tr) |
| Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences [http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/](http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/)

Research Article | Turk J Med Sci
(2025) 55: 1540-1551 © TÜBİTAK
doi:10.55730/1300-0144.6112 | | --- | --- | --- | Comparison of spatiotemporal and arm swing characteristics of gait between patients with COPD and healthy controls Hidaye YAMIKAN1􀁋, Nihat ÖZGÖREN2􀁋, Serdar ARITAN2􀁋, Oğuz KARCIOĞLU3􀁋, Aynur DEMİREL1,*􀁋 1 Department of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye 2 Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye 3 Department of Internal Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkiye Received: 29.05.2025 Accepted/Published Online: 29.09.2025 Final Version: 12.12.2025 Background/aim: Impairments in spatiotemporal gait characteristics have been observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, arm swing characteristics—a fundamental component of gait that play a key role in maintaining gait stability and energy efficiency—have been largely overlooked. This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of gait, together with arm swing patterns, in patients with COPD. Materials and methods: A total of 20 patients with COPD (aged 40–65 years) and 20 age-and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) participated in this cross-sectional study. Spatiotemporal gait characteristics and arm swing data were recorded using a motion capture system equipped with eight near-infrared cameras during a 6 min walk. Results: Stride and step length, step time and width, gait speed, and cadence were similar between the groups (p > 0.05) . The swing phase ratio was higher in patients with COPD, whereas the gait cycle and stance phase ratios were higher in the HC (p < 0.05) . The magnitude and total angular displacement of arm swings were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). In patients with COPD, the right and left arm swings were similar across both the flexion–extension and abduction–adduction axes (p > 0.05), whereas significant right– left differences were observed in the HC group (p < 0.05). Posture quality was significantly poorer in patients with COPD (p < 0.05). The types and presence of scapular dyskinesia were similar between the groups (p > 0.05) . Conclusion: Due to postural impairments and disease-related compensatory adaptations, a more abducted and symmetrical arm swing pattern was observed in patients with COPD. An asymmetrical arm swing pattern was observed in the HC group. These results highlight the importance of assessing and addressing up

FAQs

What was the main goal of the study?

To investigate spatiotemporal gait characteristics together with arm swing patterns in patients with COPD.

How was gait and arm swing data collected?

A motion capture system with eight near-infrared cameras recorded spatiotemporal gait and arm swing data during a 6-minute walk.

Which outcomes differed between COPD patients and healthy controls?

Stride and step-related measures were similar, while swing-phase ratio and posture quality differed. COPD patients showed a more abducted and symmetrical arm swing pattern, whereas controls showed asymmetry.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by RuangKosong