Prediction of Change in Maximal Aerobic Power by the 2-km Walk Test after Walking Training in Middle-Aged Adults

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Abstract
The aim was to study the 2-km walk test's accuracy in predicting maximal aerobic power (V˙O2max) and its changes during 15-week walking training in 108 healthy middle-aged adults. Training prescription was 65 - 75 % of V˙O2max 50 min/session, four times weekly. V˙O2max was measured walking on a treadmill and predicted from the 2-km walk test using gender-specific equations including age, body mass index, performance time and heart rate. The difference in V˙O2max between the walk test and the maximal exercise test before training was - 0.9 ml ×min-1 × kg-1 (SD 4.4) in men and - 2.2 (3.5) in women. The total error was from 4.1 to 4.5 ml × min-1 × kg-1. After training the increase in measured V˙O2max was 2.9 ml × min-1 × kg-1 more in the walkers compared to the controls. The difference between the predicted and measured changes in V˙O2max during training ranged from - 1.8 to - 1.0 ml × min-1 × kg-1 between the study groups except in walking men, for whom the walk test overestimated the difference. The total error was from 3.1 to 4.9 ml × min-1 × kg-1. The 2-km walk test can be used as a reasonably accurate field test to predict changes in V˙O2max due to aerobic training in healthy nonathletic adults.

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