Submaximal exercise in persons with stroke: test-retest reliability and concurrent validity with maximal oxygen consumption

Abstract

Eng JJ, Dawson AS, Chu KS. Submaximal exercise in persons with stroke: test-retest reliability and concurrent validity with maximal oxygen consumption. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:113-8. Objective To establish the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity with maximum oxygen consumption (V̇ o 2max) for 3 submaximal exercise tests in persons with chronic stroke: (1) submaximal treadmill test, (2) submaximal cycle ergometer test, and (3) 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Design Prospective study using a convenience sample. Setting Free-standing tertiary rehabilitation center. Participants A volunteer sample of 12 community-dwelling individuals who had a stroke with moderate motor deficits. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen consumption (V̇ o 2) were assessed during the exercise tests. Results Test-retest reliability was good to excellent for the exercise tests (maximal and submaximal tests). V̇ o 2 for all submaximal measures related to V̇ o 2max ( r range, .66–.80). Neither the 6MWT distance, self-selected gait speed, nor hemodynamic measures related to V̇ o 2max. Conclusion The V̇ o 2 measures of the submaximal exercise tests had excellent reliability and good concurrent validity with V̇ o 2max. Submaximal exercise tests may be a method by which to monitor the effects of interventions after a screening test (eg, symptom-limited graded exercise test, dobutamine stress echocardiograph).