title: Prediction of change in maximal aerobic power by the 2-km walk test after walking training in middle-aged adults.
abstract: The aim was to study the 2-km walk test's accuracy in predicting maximal aerobic power (VO2max) and its changes during 15-week walking training in 108 healthy middle-aged adults. Training prescription was 65-75% of VO2max 50 min/session, four times weekly. VO2max was measured walking on a treadmill and predicted from the 2-km walk test using gender-specific equations including age, body mass index, performance time and heart rate. The difference in VO2max between the walk test and the maximal exercise test before training was -0.9 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) (SD 4.4) in men and -2.2 (3.5) in women. The total error was from 4.1 to 4.5 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1). After training the increase in measured VO2max was 2.9 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) more in the walkers compared to the controls. The difference between the predicted and measured changes in VO2max during training ranged from -1.8 to -1.0 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1) between the study groups except in walking men, for whom the walk test overestimated the difference. The total error was from 3.1 to 4.9 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1). The 2-km walk test can be used as a reasonably accurate field test to predict changes in VO2max due to aerobic training in healthy nonathletic adults.
authors.affiliation: President Urho Kaleva Kekkonen Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Kukkonen-Harjula
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oja
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pasanen
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Vuori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*