title: Reliability for a walk/run test to estimate aerobic capacity in a brain-injured population.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to establish the test-retest reliability of a modified 20 m shuttle walk/run test of aerobic capacity for adults with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A convenience sample of 18 TBI patients (16 males, two females) between 19 and 58 years of age, was tested using an externally paced, progressive, maximal shuttle walk/run, on two separate occasions, within a 1-week period. The test involving walking or running a 20 m shuttle course while maintaining the pace determined by signals from a prerecorded audiotape. The initial slow walking pace (2.4 km/h) was increased gradually, each minute, until the patient could not continue. Statistical analyses revealed excellent reliability for the number of levels completed (ICC = 0.976), total walk/run test time (S) (ICC = 0.983) and maximal heart rate attained during the final level (bpm) (ICC = 0.964). Although small but significant increases were noted for the number of levels completed during the second test, the modified 20 m shuttle walk/run seems to be a reliable field test which may be useful for assessing the aerobic capacity of brain-injured adults.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology