Comparison of bioenergetics of walking during a multistage incremental shuttle walk test and a 6-min walk test in active older adults

The goal of the present research was to compare the bioenergetics variability of walking, during the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) and a multistage incremental shuttle walk test (MISWT) in an active older population. Twenty-two healthy physically active older adults with a group mean age of 70.4 ± 5.8 yea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aging clinical and experimental research 2017-04, Vol.29 (2), p.239-246
Main Authors: Leone, Mario, Duvergé, Sébastien, Kalinova, Émilia, Bui, Hung Tien, Comtois, Alain S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aging - physiology
Anaerobic Threshold - physiology
Bioenergetics
Energy Metabolism
Exercise Tolerance - physiology
Female
Geriatric Assessment - methods
Geriatrics/Gerontology
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Older people
Original Article
Walk Test - methods
Walking - physiology
Walking Speed - physiology
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Summary:The goal of the present research was to compare the bioenergetics variability of walking, during the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) and a multistage incremental shuttle walk test (MISWT) in an active older population. Twenty-two healthy physically active older adults with a group mean age of 70.4 ± 5.8 years completed the 6-MWT and the MISWT. Heart rate (HR), walking speed and walking V ˙ O 2 were measured throughout each test with a portable metabolic cart. Strong correlations were found for the V ˙ O 2 peak and the walking speed ( r  = 0.91 and r  = 0.89 respectively for 6-MWT and MISWT). Differences in V ˙ O 2 peak values were analysed with a paired Student’s t test. Repeated measures ANOVA were conducted to detect differences between tests. The Bland and Altman plot indicates that the average difference between both tests was 2.5 ml kg −1  min −1 . MISWT V ˙ O 2 peak means were significantly greater than the 6-MWT V ˙ O 2 peak mean values (21.6 ± 5.3 vs. 18.9 ± 4.5 ml kg −1  min −1 ) which indicate bioenergetics differences between the two walking tests. Thus, the MISWT and 6-MWT elicited different walking V ˙ O 2 peak and HR suggesting that the MISWT field test challenge the participants to a higher level of cardiovascular and respiratory stress. The walking V ˙ O 2 peak recorded for the MISWT was significantly greater than the 6-MWT. Consequently, both tests seem to measure different facets of the aerobic capacity. MISWT seems to be a better indicator of maximal aerobic power whereas the 6-MWT provides more relevant information regarding aerobic endurance in aging population.
ISSN:1720-8319
1594-0667
1720-8319
DOI:10.1007/s40520-016-0555-0