title: Evaluating the need for two incremental shuttle walk tests during a maintenance exercise program in people with COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there was an increase in walk distance when two incremental shuttle walk tests (ISWTs) were performed at the commencement of a maintenance exercise program (0 month) and at three, six and 12-month assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, longitudinal, repeated measures study in COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single site, hospital outpatient physiotherapy department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight participants (22 males) with COPD participated in the study: [baseline characteristics: mean (SD): FEV1 59 (19) % predicted; age 65 (8) years; BMI 26 (6) (kg/m(2))].
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed two ISWTs at zero, three, six and twelve months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incremental shuttle walk distance (ISWD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in walk distance between two ISWTs at zero month (17 metres (95% CI: 7 to 26) and three months (18 metres (95% CI: 6 to 30), but not at six or 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in walk distance when a second ISWT was performed at zero and three months indicates the need to perform two ISWTs when participants are naïve to the test and at the three-month reassessment during a 12-month maintenance exercise program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney 2050, Australia; Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 2060, Australia. Electronic address: lissa.spencer@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Lissa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney 2050, Australia; Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 2060, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alison
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 2060, Australia.
authors.forename: Zoe J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: McKeough
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: COPD; ISWT; Maintenance; Pulmonary rehabilitation