Factors associated with incremental shuttle-walk performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease

• Published in: Journal of sports sciences Vol. 22; no. 3; p. 296
• Main Authors: Zwierska, I, Male, J S, Choksy, S, Wood, RFM, Pockley, A G, Saxton, J M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2004
• ISSN: 0264-0414

Intermittent claudication is the most common symptomatic manifestation of mild to moderate atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease. It is associated with a moderate to severe limitation in walking ability, such as poor walking endurance and slower walking speeds, and can adversely affect social, leisure and occupational activities. An incremental shuttle walk test can be used as an alternative to treadmill testing for assessing walking performance in patients with peripheral arterial disease. This test provides an objective measure of walking ability, allowing both claudication distance (distance at which claudication pain first occurs) and maximum walking distance (distance before walking is terminated due to claudication pain) to be determined. The aim of this study was to explore potential factors that could be associated with incremental shuttle-walk performance in this patient group.