Reliability of a walk run test to estimate aerobic capacity in a brain-injured population

The purpose of this study was to establish the test-retest reliability of a modified 20m shuttle walk run test of aerobic capacity for adults with traumatic brain injuries TBI. A convenience sample of 18 TBI patients 16 males, two females between 19 and 58 years of age, was tested using an externally paced, progressive, maximal shuttle walk run, on two separate occasions, within a 1-week period. The test involved walking or running a 20m shuttle course while maintaining the pace determined by signals from a prerecorded audiotape. The initial slow walking pace 2 4 km h was increased gradually, each minute, until the patient could not continue. Statistical analyses revealed excellent reliability for the number of levels completed ICC 0 976, total walk run test time S ICC 0 983 and maximal heart rate attained during the final level bpm ICC 0 964. Although small but significant increases were noted for the number of levels completed during the second test, the modified 20 m shuttle walk run seems to be a reliable field test which may be useful for assessing the aerobic capacity of brain-injured adults.