Evaluating the need for two incremental shuttle walk tests during a maintenance exercise program in people with COPD

Objective

To determine if there was an increase in walk distance when two incremental shuttle walk tests (ISWTs) were performed at the commencement of a maintenance exercise program (0 month) and at three, six and 12-month assessments.

Design

A prospective, longitudinal, repeated measures study in COPD.

Setting

Single site, hospital outpatient physiotherapy department.

Participants

Forty-eight participants (22 males) with COPD participated in the study: [baseline characteristics: mean (SD): FEV₁ 59 (19) % predicted; age 65 (8) years; BMI 26 (6) (kg/m²)].

Intervention

Participants completed two ISWTs at zero, three, six and twelve months.

Outcomes

Incremental shuttle walk distance (ISWD).

Results

There was a significant increase in walk distance between two ISWTs at zero month (17 metres (95% CI: 7 to 26) and three months (18 metres (95% CI: 6 to 30), but not at six or 12 months.

Conclusion

The increase in walk distance when a second ISWT was performed at zero and three months indicates the need to perform two ISWTs when participants are naïve to the test and at the three-month reassessment during a 12-month maintenance exercise program.

Evaluating the need for two incremental shuttle walk tests during a maintenance exercise program in people with COPD; Physiotherapy - June 2014 (Vol. 100, Issue 2, Pages 123-127, DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2013.12.001)