Reliability of treadmill testing in peripheral arterial disease: A meta-regression analysis

Abstract

Treadmill assessment has the highest reliability when using a G-protocol together with the ACD as the primary outcome measure.

The Treadmill Is a Better Functional Test Than the 6-Minute Walk Test in Therapeutic Trials of Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

“…The constant-load test has a linear relationship, whereas the graded test has a curvilinear relationship (higher work rates are associated with progressively shorter incremental walking times). 39 The reliability of PWT was significantly better with the graded test (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.95) compared with the constant-load test (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.90). Consistent with the limitations enumerated above, the reliability of the constant-load test was also dependent on the fixed grade of the treadmill (poor at 0% grade and better at 12% grade), whereas the graded test performed well across the full dynamic range of patients studied.…”

“…A meta-regression analysis of 8 studies compared the 2 tests using the intraclass correlation coefficient to determine the consistency between measurements over time. 39 It should also be noted that these 2 exercise tests have different relationships between workload and PWT. The constant-load test has a linear relationship, whereas the graded test has a curvilinear relationship (higher work rates are associated with progressively shorter incremental walking times).…”

Outcomes for Clinical Studies Assessing Drug and Revascularization Therapies for Claudication and Critical Limb Ischemia in Peripheral Artery Disease

“…The peak walking time is more reproducible than the claudication onset time with graded protocols. 69,70 Corridor-based tests include the 6-minute walk test, which measures walking endurance using a standard protocol in which subjects walk up and down a 100-ft hallway for 6 minutes after being told to walk as long as possible. 65 The end point is the distance walked over 6 minutes.…”

Systematic review of exercise training or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for intermittent claudication

“…Yet, the ideal treadmill test in this respect is unknown. The graded Gardner protocol might be preferred because of its better reproducibility compared with non-graded tests 40 . Alternatively, corridor walking might better reflect the functional capacity of claudicants than the somewhat artificial assessment of a treadmill test 41 .…”