[Development of a walking stage test (PWT) for the elderly].

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Science

Background:

• Assessing aerobic endurance in elderly individuals is crucial for personalized exercise recommendations.
• Existing methods may not always be practical or safe for field-based assessments in older adults.
• The need for an economical and reliable field test for elderly endurance is recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a field-stage test for assessing aerobic endurance in elderly individuals.
• To establish an economical test that meets quality criteria and minimizes health risks.
• To provide individualized training recommendations for walking based on measured performance.

Main Methods:

• A three-phase study involving laboratory and field ergometry, test development, and evaluation.
• Inclusion of 90 participants, with 269 single tests conducted.
• Measurement of heart rate and lactate levels during a three-stage power walking test (PWT).

Main Results:

• The PWT effectively evaluates individual performance capability using heart rate, without necessitating maximum exertion.
• The test is suitable for individuals aged 60-80 years.
• The PWT provides a basis for individualizing walking training intensity.

Conclusions:

• The three-stage power walking test (PWT) is a valid diagnostic instrument for assessing aerobic endurance in older adults (60-80 years).
• The PWT allows for the creation of personalized walking training plans based on individual endurance levels.
• This field test improves the accuracy of heart rate-based training guidelines for systematic endurance training in the elderly.