Validation of "CENTR(AR)" walking trails: Different field criteria do not lead to different physical activity intensities in people with COPD

•Volume increased along with the difficulty level of walking trails, while intensity remained unchanged.•All CENTR(AR) walking trails seem to be of moderate intensity for COPD.•Walking trails were safe and can be used to promote physical activity in COPD. Validating walking trails is essential to promote physical activity (PA) safely and confidently in people with COPD. We aimed to validate predetermined light, moderate, and vigorous intensities of walking trails in people with COPD. This cross-sectional study included individuals with COPD walking in predetermined light, moderate and vigorous intensity trails. Activity intensity and volume outcomes were collected. Dyspnoea and fatigue (modified Borg scale), energy expenditure (EE, Sensewear), heart rate (HR, HR monitor), time spent in different PA intensities, and cadence (ActiGraph) were recorded and used to classify PA intensity. Twenty people with COPD [71(7) years, 80 % male, FEV1%predicted 65.6(11.6)] were included. Fatigue differed significantly between light and moderate [3.0(2.0;4.0) vs 3.4(2.5;4.5), p = 0.01], but not vigorous (3.5[2.5–4.0]) tracks. Dyspnoea [2.3(1.5) vs 2.7(1.6) vs 2.6(1.4)], EE [5.1(0.8) vs 4.9(0.5) vs 4.6(0.8) METs], HR [92.5(11.1) vs 93.7(18.6) vs 95.4(15.0) beats/min] and cadence [115.1(104.0;120.3) vs 104.7(99.6;117.6) vs 111.2(99.9;118.5) steps/min] were similar across trails (p > 0.05). Time spent in light and moderate PA, EE volume, walking time, and step count increased along with the proposed intensity levels (p < 0.01). Walking trails were categorised as moderate intensity in most participants. Walking trails were safe and valid for practising moderate-intensity PA in people with COPD. Participants adjusted their physiological responses and perceived symptoms to match a moderate intensity.