Validation of an intermittent shuttle walking protocol in COPD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Methodological validation of an intermittent shuttle walking protocol in the context of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
IRAS ID
280032
Contact name
Charikleia Alexiou
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
In the UK, walking on a flat surface is prescribed in the pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) setting as a convenient, less resource-intensive, and highly responsive exercise modality in COPD. However, endurance time during the implementation of walking exercises, such as the continuous endurance shuttle walking (ESW) protocol, is limited to only a few minutes due to intense breathlessness. It therefore seems sensible to develop an intermittent walking protocol that would prolong walking time and distance compared to continuous walking on a flat surface. The aim of this study is three-fold: 1) to identify whether an intermittent shuttle walking (ISW) protocol significantly prolongs walking distance compared to the continuous ESW protocol in the PR setting in COPD patients; 2) to investigate the test re-test reliability of the distance walked during the ISW protocol; 3) to explore patients' experiences of undertaking the ISW protocol during PR. The study hypothesis is that the ISW protocol would be associated with lower breathlessness, thereby facilitating an increase in walking distance compared to the continuous ESW protocol. COPD patients undertaking the pulmonary rehabilitation programme at RVI in Newcastle will initially perform an incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) to establish peak walking speed and subsequently the continuous ESW protocol at a walking speed corresponding to 85% of peak speed to the point the individual cannot keep pace. On two additional visits, patients will perform two ISW protocols to the point the individual cannot keep pace by alternating 1-minute walking bouts at a walking speed corresponding to 85% peak speed (similar to the continuous ESW protocol) with 1-minute rest periods in between walking bouts to establish the reproducibility of this protocol. Following completion of these visits, patients will be interviewed to explore their experiences of undertaking the ISW and endurance shuttle walking protocols in PR setting.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/0752
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion