Ground-based walking training improves quality of life and exercise capacity in COPD

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Ground-based walking training improves quality of life and exercise capacity in COPD Wootton, Sally; Ng, Cindy; McKeough, Zoe J; Jenkins, Sue; Hill, Kylie; Eastwood, Peter R; Hillman, David R; Cecins, Nola; Spencer, Lissa M; Jenkins, Christine; Alison, Jennifer A This study was designed to determine the effect of ground-based walking training on health-related quality of life and exercise capacity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People with COPD were randomised to either a walking group that received supervised, ground-based walking training two to three times a week for 8–10 weeks, or a control group that received usual medical care and did not participate in exercise training.130 out of 143 participants (mean (SD) age 69 (8) years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 43 (15% predicted) completed the study. Compared to the control group, the walking group demonstrated greater improvements in the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire total score (mean difference -6 points (95% CI -10 to -2), p,0.003), Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire total score (mean difference 7 points (95%CI 2 to11), p,0.01) and endurance shuttle walk test time (mean difference 208 s (95% CI 104to 313), p=0.001). This study shows that ground-based walking training is an effective training modality that improves quality of life and endurance exercise capacity in people with COPD.

Estimating endurance shuttle walk test speed using the six-minute walk test in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Sat, 01 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Estimating endurance shuttle walk test speed using the six-minute walk test in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Wootton, Sally L; Ng, Cindy; McKeough, Zoe J; Jenkins, Sue; Hill, Kylie; Alison, Jenny A The objective of this study was to derive and validate an equation to estimate the speed for the endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) using results from the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Participants with diagnosed COPD (n = 84) performed two incremental shuttle walk tests (ISWTs) and two 6MWTs. ESWT speed was calculated from the ISWT results using the original published method. An equation was derived, which directly related six-minute walk distance (6MWD) to ESWT speed. The derived equation was validated in a different group of people with COPD (n =52). There was a strong correlation between average 6MWD and the calculated ESWT speed (r = 0.88, p < 0.001). The ESWT speed (kilometre per hour) was estimated using the following equation: 0.4889 +(0.0083 x 6MWD). The mean difference (+limits of agreement) between ESWT speeds was calculated using the original publishedmethod and found to be 0.03 (+0.77) km/hour. When the ISWT is not the test of choice for clinicians, the 6MWT can be used to accurately estimate the speed for the ESWT.

Research Publications and Outputs

Ground-based walking training improves quality of life and exercise capacity in COPD

Estimating endurance shuttle walk test speed using the six-minute walk test in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease