Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent and the burden of this disease is only expected to increase in the coming 15–20 years. Once viewed as a disease limited to the lung, COPD is now recognized as a multisystemic disease with various organ dysfunctions. Skeletal muscle dysfunction is one of the most devastating systemic manifestations of COPD. Skeletal muscle dysfunction is such a reality in COPD that, depending on the clinical situations, 20–35% of the patients refer to leg fatigue as the main cause of exercise cessation, whereas 41% consider it to be at least a major contributor to exercise limitation.