Utility of field-based techniques to assess Indigenous Australians' functional fitness and sedentary time

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine the utility of field-based techniques to assess functional exercise capacity and sedentary time in Indigenous and non-Indigenous regional Australian adults. Study designObservational, analytic cohort study. MethodsNinety six adults residing in regional and remote Australian communities participated in this study (Indigenous n = 61 and non-Indigenous Australians n = 35). Participants undertook a field-based test of functional exercise capacity (6 min walk test; 6 MWT) and wore an accelerometer during waking hours for seven days, provided self-report data on physical activity and sedentary time and rated experiences in regard to the ease of complying with study protocols. ResultsThere were high levels of compliance in this study (Indigenous: 91% and non-Indigenous: 97%). Functional exercise capacity was lower in Indigenous Australians (P < 0.001), and independently associated with advancing age, higher BMI, and indigeneity, with 45% of variability in the 6 MWT distance explained by these factors. The relationship between accelerometer and self-report measures of sedentary behaviour was significant (P < 0.001) but only explained 17% of the total variation. ConclusionsThis study demonstrated very good compliance for the methods utilised and is the first to report reduced functional exercise capacity in Indigenous people. ImplicationsThe field-based techniques from this study demonstrate good utility for larger scale implementation in regional Indigenous populations.