Comparative analysis and reproducibility of the modified shuttle walk test in normal children and in children with cystic fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the shuttle walk test, and its respective retest, comparing children with cystic fibrosis (CF) to normal children.


METHODS
The children were divided into two groups: the CF group, composed of children in whom the diagnosis had been confirmed through sweat testing; and the control group, composed of normal children with no history of pulmonary diseases and no alterations in respiratory function. The children were submitted to at least two consecutive tests, 30 min apart. We evaluated distance walked, cardiac overload, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and subjective perception of exertion (dyspnea at rest scale and Borg dyspnea scale).


RESULTS
A total of 28 children were evaluated. Ages ranged from 7 to 15 years (11.57 +/= 2.50 and 11.28 +/= 1.85 years for the CF and control groups, respectively). The Borg scale scores were significantly higher in the controls (p = 0.007). No differences were found regarding cardiac overload and SpO2. In relation to the intergroup retest, the controls presented significant improvements on the second test, both in the distance walked and in dyspnea at rest (p = 0.014 and p = 0.036, respectively). The CF group presented a significant improvement only in the dyspnea at rest score (p = 0.168 and p = 0.042, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The cardiac overload imposed by the test did not differ between the groups. The greater fatigue at the beginning of the second test suggests that the 30 min rest between the tests was insufficient.
Coelho
Cristiane Cenachi
CC
Universidade do Vale do Paraíba, São José dos Campos, SP, Brasil. cccoelho@terra.com.br <cccoelho@terra.com.br>
Aquino
Evanirso da Silva
Eda S
de Almeida
Dorcas Costa
DC
Oliveira
Gisele Caroline
GC
Pinto
Roberta de Castro
Rde C
Rezende
Ivana Mara Oliveira
IM
Passos
Cíntia
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004417:Dyspnea; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010465:Perception; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
D010100:Oxygen