Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder and Acute Exercise

In this study, the following hypothesis will be tested: A bout of resistance exercise will affect the acute and 24h response in whole-body protein and amino acid metabolism and cognitive function as compared to baseline values in COPD patients and healthy subjects. To do this, subjects will complete a baseline visit in which they receive stable amino acid tracers. The next day they will complete a one-time resistance exercise with an immediate measurement of the amino acid tracers, and return 24 hours after exercise to repeat amino acid tracer measurements. This project will provide important clinical information on the whole body protein and amino acid metabolic response to acute resistance exercise in elderly subjects with COPD, as well as, the exercise induced changes in physical and cognitive function, and absolute muscular strength capacity in this population. In this way, this study will provide preliminary data for the development of standardized, repeatable resistance exercise protocols that will stop the process of ongoing muscle loss and improve metabolism and function in COPD subjects.