Brain and Peripheral Muscle Oxygenation in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

This interventional study aims to investigate the acute effects of different types of exercise on cerebral and peripheral muscle oxygenation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) will be used simultaneously to measure oxygenation changes in the prefrontal cortex and the vastus lateralis muscle during rest, Stroop task performance, the six-minute walk test, aerobic, strengthening, and breathing exercises.

The study will compare COPD patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls to determine how brain and muscle oxygenation responses differ between groups and among exercise modalities. The findings are expected to guide the design of safe, individualized pulmonary rehabilitation programs that optimize oxygenation without compromising safety.