ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2011 February;170(1):1-10

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Incremental shuttle and six-minute walk tests in healthy elderly subjects

Zuniga Dourado V., Pellegrini Pisani L., Lombardi I. Junior, Fernandes Guerra R. L., Vidotto M. C.

Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, (UNIFESP, Federal University of São Paulo), Santos, Brazil

Aim. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the incremental shuttle (ISWT) and six-minute walk test (6MWT) in a sample of older subjects.
Methods. Thirty subjects (26 women; 54±9 years) performed the ISWT and 6MWT. Anthropometrics, spirometry, physical activity index, grip strength, maximal respiratory pressures, lean body mass (LBM), Berg balance scale (BBS), Timed Get Up and Go (TGUG), usual gait speed (UGS), and health-related quality of life were determined.
Results. Age correlated significantly (p< 0.05) with the ISWT distance (ISWD) (r= -0.40) and height correlated significantly with ISWD and 6MWT distance (6MWD) (r=0.65; r=-0.46, respectively). Grip strength, LBM, BBS, TGUG and UGS correlated significantly with both the ISWD (r=0.62; r=0.63; r=0.49; r=-0.67; r=0.55, respectively) and 6MWD (r=0.49; r=0.37; r=0.36; r=-0.63; r=0.49, respectively). After multiple regression analysis, the TGUG, grip strength and UGS were selected as determinants of ISWD (r2=0.644). Only the TGUG was selected as a determinant of 6MWD (r2=0.405). LBM was also determinant of ISWD in an alternative model (Dr2=0.175).
Conclusion. The ISWT is valid for the assessment of physical fitness among older individuals and its validity seems to be more significant than the 6MWT. The ISWT might be useful tool in exercise programs due to its operational simplicity and the need for little space for its execution.