title: Effects of an 18 week walking programme on cardiac function in previously sedentary or relatively inactive adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of an 18 week walking programme upon cardiac function.
  
  
  METHODS
  29 sedentary or relatively inactive but otherwise healthy subjects (15 walkers and 14 controls, aged 40-68 years) completed the study. The walkers completed a progressive 18 week walking programme which required an estimated average energy expenditure of 900 kcal week-1 for the total duration of the study and 1161 kcal week-1 during the final six weeks. Walking was carried out at an intensity of 67.8 (SD 4.99)% of maximum oxygen consumption and 73.8(6.99%) of maximum heart rate. Before and after the intervention all subjects underwent an M mode echocardiogram, graded treadmill walking test, and step test for the assessment of aerobic fitness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 18 weeks the results of the control group showed no change in any of the variables measured while the walkers showed a statistically significant increase in the velocity of relaxation of the longitudinal myocardial fibres of the left ventricle and a decrease in heart rate measured during the step tests, indicating an improvement in aerobic capacity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Walking promotes improvements in cardiovascular fitness. Moderate forms of exercise may improve cardiac function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Canterbury Christ Church College, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Woolf-May
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*