Article

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of measuring ventilatory threshold (VT) in
adults with walking impairments due to stroke. Secondary objectives are to assess
reliability of VT over trials; assess whether participants could sustain
treadmill walking at VT; and compare mean heart rate during sustained treadmill
walking to estimated heart rate reserve (HRR).
DESIGN: Cross-sectional,
single-group design. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS:
Volunteer sample of adults (N=8) with impaired walking resulting from chronic
stroke. INTERVENTIONS: Three submaximal treadmill walking tests on 3 separate
days; a 30-minute treadmill walking session on a fourth day. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Gas exchange variables were measured, and 2 independent observers
identified VT. Mean heart rate response to treadmill walking at VT was measured
and compared with estimated 40% of HRR. RESULTS: VT was measured successfully in
88% of all trials. There was no difference in VT among trials (P=.17). After
multiple imputations to account for 3 missing data points, the intraclass
correlation coefficient was .87 (95% confidence interval, .80-.95). All
participants were able to walk for 20 minutes at VT. Mean +/- SD heart rate
during the session was 66.0%+/-8.0% of estimated maximal heart rate. There was no
significant difference between mean heart rate and estimated HRR values (P=.70).
CONCLUSIONS: In adults with impaired walking resulting from stroke, VT can be
safely measured during submaximal treadmill walking. Participants were able to
sustain walking at VT, and this value may provide an appropriate stimulus for
aerobic exercise prescription in this population.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS