Factors associating with shuttle walking test results in community-dwelling elderly people.
BACKGROUND
The shuttle walking test (SWT) is a simple, widely used method for assessing endurance performance in the elderly. Despite widespread community use, its associated factors are unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We aim to identify previously undefined SWT association factors in community-dwelling elderly people.


METHODS
Herein, 149 healthy elderly Japanese subjects performed the SWT, and were assessed for height, weight, smoking history, 10-m walk time, Timed Up and Go (TUG) scores, handgrip strength, skeletal mass index (SMI), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), cardio-ankle vascular index, and ankle brachial index. We divided men and women into higher and lower SWT score groups, compared between-group parameters, and performed stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify factors independently associated with SWT scores.


RESULTS
Age, BMI, 10-m walk time, TUG score, SMI, FVC (L; %-predicted), and FEV1 (L; %-predicted) were significantly different between SWT score groups for men, while in women, significant differences were observed in age, TUG score, handgrip strength, FVC (L; %-predicted), and FEV1 (L; %-predicted) (p < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression model, 10-m walk time, and FEV1 showed significant associations with SWT results in men; among women, age was the only significantly associated factor (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that better lung function and shorter walk time independently associate with SWT results in community-dwelling men; in women, age is the only association. Our findings may offer insight when considering the focus of community exercise programs among the elderly.
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan. adachi.daiki.53z@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Daiki
D
Adachi
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Shu
S
Nishiguchi
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Naoto
N
Fukutani
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Hiroki
H
Kayama
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Takanori
T
Tanigawa
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Taiki
T
Yukutake
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Takayuki
T
Hotta
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Yuto
Y
Tashiro
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Saori
S
Morino
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Minoru
M
Yamada
Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
Tomoki
T
Aoyama
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
Community-dwelling elderly people; Endurance function; Lung function; Shuttle walking test