Full Familiarisation Is Not Required for the Self-Paced 1 km Treadmill Walk to Predict Peak Oxygen Uptake in Phase IV Cardiac Patients

TL;DR

A treadmill walk test can predict heart fitness in cardiac patients without needing prior practice.

Contribution

The study shows that a self-paced treadmill walk test can predict peak oxygen uptake without full familiarization.

Findings

Self-selected walking speed in the 1-KTWT reliably predicts V˙O2peak in cardiac patients.

Physiological responses were consistent across two 1-KTWT sessions.

No full familiarization is needed for accurate V˙O2peak prediction.

Abstract

Exercise is a recommended part of phase IV cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR). The 1 km treadmill walk test (1-KTWT) is a submaximal continuous exercise test to predict cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with cardiovascular disease. We examined physiological, metabolic and subjective responses in patients with cardiovascular disease with self-selected, unchanging walking speed for two 1-KTWTs. Fifteen men (age: 65 ± 9 yr, height: 174 ± 5 cm, body mass: 86 ± 17 kg, BMI: 28.5 ± 5.5 kg·m−2, body fat%: 27.7 ± 7.5%, 10 on beta-blockers) were recruited from phase IV CR groups in the United Kingdom. Participants established a self-selected walking speed for the 1-KTWT and performed the 1-KTWT on separate days with recording of physiological responses to predict V˙O2peak with equations. For the two 1-KTWTs, no differences existed for walking speed, mean and maximal heart rates, oxygen uptake, predicted V˙O2peak (1st 1-KTWT (range: 41–78% V˙O2peak, 95%CI, 53–65; 2nd 1-KTWT range: 43–78% V˙O2peak, 95%CI, 52–65) and rating of perceived exertion. In phase IV cardiac patients, the 1-KTWT with self-selected, unchanging walking speed can be used for V˙O2peak prediction without the need for a full familiarisation. The self-selected constant walking speed for the first 1-KTWT can be used to support nonsupervised physical activity for phase IV CR patients.

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