Background: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) is the gold standard for the assessment of exercise capacity, however its clinical applicability is limited. The Shuttle Walk Test (SWT) is a simple and less expensive test that might be used as an alternative measurement of exercise capacity in clinical practice. Purpose: To investigate the test-retest and inter-rater reliability and criterion-related validity of the SWT for the assessment of peak exercise capacity in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods: Forty-four individuals (54.93±11.49 years) with chronic stroke (70.91±74.76 months after stroke) were included until now and performed a CPET and a SWT. SWT was performed twice within 7-15 days for test-retest reliability (n=29) and a third SWT was conducted by a second trained independent examiner for inter-rater reliability (n=34). To investigate the test-retest and inter-rater reliabilities of the SWT, Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) was used. For criterion-related validity of the SWT, Pearson’s correlation coefficient between distance covered during the SWT (meters) and peak oxygen consumption (mL.kg.min-1) was determined (α=0.05). Results: Preliminary data analysis, with a sample size smaller than estimated, showed significant and high magnitude test-retest reliability (ICC=0.73; p<0.001) and significant and very high magnitude inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.95; p<0.001). Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the SWT and the CPET measures was significant, but with low magnitude (r= 0.39; p=0.009). Conclusion: The preliminary results suggested that the SWT has adequate measurement properties for the assessment of exercise capacity of individuals with chronic stroke. The final analysis will be performed with 50 subjects included.

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE SHUTTLE WALK TEST TO ASSESS EXERCISE CAPACITY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH CHRONIC STROKE: PRELIMINARY RESULTS