title: Comparison of bioenergetics of walking during a multistage incremental shuttle walk test and a 6-min walk test in active older adults.
abstract: The goal of the present research was to compare the bioenergetics variability of walking, during the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) and a multistage incremental shuttle walk test (MISWT) in an active older population. Twenty-two healthy physically active older adults with a group mean age of 70.4 ± 5.8 years completed the 6-MWT and the MISWT. Heart rate (HR), walking speed and walking [Formula: see text]O2were measured throughout each test with a portable metabolic cart. Strong correlations were found for the [Formula: see text]O2peak and the walking speed (r = 0.91 and r = 0.89 respectively for 6-MWT and MISWT). Differences in [Formula: see text]O2peak values were analysed with a paired Student's t test. Repeated measures ANOVA were conducted to detect differences between tests. The Bland and Altman plot indicates that the average difference between both tests was 2.5 ml kg-1min-1. MISWT [Formula: see text]O2peak means were significantly greater than the 6-MWT [Formula: see text]O2peak mean values (21.6 ± 5.3 vs. 18.9 ± 4.5 ml kg-1min-1) which indicate bioenergetics differences between the two walking tests. Thus, the MISWT and 6-MWT elicited different walking [Formula: see text]O2peak and HR suggesting that the MISWT field test challenge the participants to a higher level of cardiovascular and respiratory stress. The walking [Formula: see text]O2peak recorded for the MISWT was significantly greater than the 6-MWT. Consequently, both tests seem to measure different facets of the aerobic capacity. MISWT seems to be a better indicator of maximal aerobic power whereas the 6-MWT provides more relevant information regarding aerobic endurance in aging population.
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences de la Santé (division Kinésiologie), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 555, Boulevard de l'Université, Saguenay, QC, G7H 2B1, Canada. mario.leone@uqac.ca.|Centre de Recherche Universitaire Interdisciplinaire sur la Qualité et les Saines Habitudes de Vie, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Canada. mario.leone@uqac.ca.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.affiliation: Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duvergé
authors.affiliation: Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.|Centre de Recherche Universitaire Interdisciplinaire sur la Qualité et les Saines Habitudes de Vie, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Canada.
authors.forename: Émilia
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Kalinova
authors.affiliation: Département des Sciences Appliquées (Ingénierie), Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Canada.|Centre de Recherche Universitaire Interdisciplinaire sur la Qualité et les Saines Habitudes de Vie, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Canada.
authors.forename: Hung Tien
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: Département de Kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Canada.|Centre de Recherche Universitaire Interdisciplinaire sur la Qualité et les Saines Habitudes de Vie, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Canada.
authors.forename: Alain S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Comtois
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070857:Walk Test / Q000379:methods; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D000072797:Walking Speed / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Active population; Aging; Bioenergetics; Peak oxygen consumption; Walking tests