Does the incremental shuttle walk test require maximal effort in young obese women?

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Obesity Research
• Cardiopulmonary Function Assessment

Background:

• Obesity is a chronic disease requiring comprehensive management, including exercise.
• Increased body mass significantly impacts physiological demands during physical activity.
• Functional capacity assessment is crucial for tailoring exercise prescriptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare cardiovascular, ventilatory, and metabolic responses during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) and the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) in obese women.
• To develop a prediction equation for peak oxygen consumption (VO2) using ISWT variables.
• To evaluate the ISWT as a viable alternative to CPX for assessing aerobic capacity in this population.

Main Methods:

• Forty obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) underwent one treadmill CPX and two ISWTs.
• Measurements included heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (ABP), and perceived exertion (Borg scale).
• Peak VO2 from CPX was correlated with ISWT peak VO2 and ISWT distance.

Main Results:

• Peak VO2 from CPX showed a significant positive correlation with ISWT peak VO2 (r=0.79) and ISWT distance (r=0.65).
• A predictive model using age and ISWT distance explained 67% of the variability in CPX peak VO2.
• The ISWT demonstrated a strong relationship with CPX-derived aerobic capacity measures.

Conclusions:

• The ISWT is a valuable tool for predicting aerobic capacity in obese women.
• This test offers a practical alternative when CPX is not feasible.
• Findings support using ISWT for individualized exercise guidance in obesity management.