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Utility of field-based techniques to assess Indigenous Australians' functional fitness and sedentary time
A J Sushames1, A M Edwards2, J K Mein3
1Sport and Exercise Science, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia.
Objective:
To examine the utility of field-based techniques to assess functional exercise capacity and sedentary time in Indigenous and non-Indigenous regional Australian adults.
Study Design:
Observational, analytic cohort study.
Methods:
Ninety six adults residing in regional and remote Australian communities participated in this study (Indigenous n = 61 and non-Indigenous Australians n = 35). Participants undertook a field-based test of functional exercise capacity (6 min walk test; 6 MWT) and wore an accelerometer during waking hours for seven days, provided self-report data on physical activity and sedentary time and rated experiences in regard to the ease of complying with study protocols.
Results:
There were high levels of compliance in this study (Indigenous: 91% and non-Indigenous: 97%). Functional exercise capacity was lower in Indigenous Australians (P < 0.001), and independently associated with advancing age, higher BMI, and indigeneity, with 45% of variability in the 6 MWT distance explained by these factors. The relationship between accelerometer and self-report measures of sedentary behaviour was significant (P < 0.001) but only explained 17% of the total variation.
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated very good compliance for the methods utilised and is the first to report reduced functional exercise capacity in Indigenous people.
Implications:
The field-based techniques from this study demonstrate good utility for larger scale implementation in regional Indigenous populations.
