Prescribing walking training in interstitial lung disease from the 6-minute walk test

ABSTRACT

Introduction and Objective

Endurance training during PR requires exercise prescription at sufficient intensity to achieve physiological benefits. This analysis sought to investigate whether walking training prescribed from 6-minute walk test (6MWT) average speed provides an appropriate training intensity for people with ILD during PR.

Methods

Individuals with ILD completed cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and 6MWT in random order. A 10-minute constant speed treadmill walk test (10MTW) was undertaken at 80% of the average 6MWT speed. Oxygen uptake (VO₂) was measured during all tests. Percentage VO₂peak during 10MTW was main outcome measure.

Results

Eleven people with ILD (age 71 (8) years; forced vital capacity 73 (18) %predicted, 6-minute walk distance 481 (99) meters, and VO₂peak during CPET 1.3 (0.2) L.min⁻¹) undertook testing. Average VO₂peak during 10MTW was 91 (18) % of CPET VO₂peak [range 67–116%]. Participants who achieved a greater VO₂peak during CPET walked at a smaller %VO₂peak during 10MTW (r = −0.6; p = .04).

Conclusions

For people with ILD, walking training prescribed at 80% of 6MWT average speed can provide adequate exercise training intensity for PR.

KEYWORDS:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• interstitial lung disease
• 6-minute walk test
• exercise prescription
• exercise training

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Latrobe University