La montée des escaliers est-elle une épreuve d'effort maximale pour des patients BPCOÂ ?

Stairclimbing represents a submaximal effort for the majority of COPD patients combined with a high metabolic cost. However, some COPD patients execute a maximal effort like in the cycle ergometer test when climbing stairs. These two groups could not be differentiated with the rest lung function data. The hypothesis of different mechanical constraints and/or motivation is suggested.