Protocol - Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Exercise Test Estimate - One Mile Walk

Description

The participant is asked to complete a one-mile walk test as quickly as possible on a track. The participant should walk briskly at a steady pace that can be maintained for the entire mile. A technician utilizes a stopwatch to time the walk. The participant wears a heart-rate (HR) monitor that records HR continuously through the test. After the test is completed, the technician records the HR from the last 10 seconds of the test. In addition, the participant’s age, sex, and body weight are needed to complete an equation to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max).

Specific Instructions

A heart-rate (HR) monitor (e.g., Polar® HR monitor) should be used because the HR that is used in the equation is taken during the last 10 seconds of the test and not after the test is completed (HR will decline rapidly after test is completed). If HR is taken after the test is completed, this will introduce error to the prediction of VO₂max.

Ideally, the HR monitor must store HR so the technician can easily access the results after the test is completed. If not, the participant can read the HR to the technician in the last 10 seconds of the test, directly from the receiver. The manufacturer’s user manual should be followed for proper calibration and usage.

The participant should complete a screening instrument such as the PAR-Q+ (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone, The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology) prior to the one-mile walk to make certain he or she is physically capable of performing the walk. If the person is elderly or in poor health, a physician’s examination and approval is preferable prior to the test.

Notes from the Expert Review Panel:

The protocol indicates that the participant should walk "as quickly as possible," but it would be preferable to have him or her "walk briskly at a steady pace" for the entire mile. Polar® is a trademark of Polar Electro Oy.

Availability

This protocol is freely available; permission not required for use.

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Protocol

Track or pre-measured one-mile distance

Note: if a track is not used, the location where the timed walk takes place must be flat and pre-measured to equal 1 mile.

First, obtain the participant’s weight in pounds via a reliable scale, and also record his/her sex, and current age. Secure the HR monitor chest strap and watch to the participant. Explain that you will time the participant as he/she walks briskly for one-mile.

Once the participant is ready at the starting line, say "go" and start the stopwatch. Time the participant until s/he completes the entire 1 mile walk. Record the time in minutes and seconds and then convert to seconds [(minutes x 60) + seconds].

Insert the person’s weight, age, sex, time, and HR into the following scoring equation to determine VO_2max (maximal oxygen consumption).

Scoring

VO_2max = 6.9652 + (0.0091 * WEIGHT) - (0.0257 * AGE) + (0.5995 * SEX¹) - (0.2240 * TIME) - (0.0115 * HEART RATE)

¹Male = 1, Female = 0

Units of VO_2maxare liters of oxygen per minute (l/min)

Personnel and Training Required

A technician who has been trained in monitoring a walk test and in properly recording the data.

Equipment Needs

One-mile track or pre-measured flat walking area. A heart-rate (HR) monitor with chest strap and wrist receiver that stores HR data is recommended.

Requirements

Requirement Category	Required
Major equipment	No
Specialized training	No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection	No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual	No

Mode of Administration

Physical Measurement

Lifestage

Adult, Senior

Participants

Ages 20 to 69

While the validation of the one-mile walk test was conducted in middle aged and elderly adults, the PhenX Working Group recommends that the protocol can be used with participants as young as 20 years of age and with older age groups, provided that a physician approves the test in frail or medically compromised study participants.

Selection Rationale

This is a standard assessment of aerobic capacity that has been widely utilized for the past two decades. It is low burden for healthy participants and relatively easy for a technician to administer.

Language

Chinese, English

Standards

Standard	Name	ID	Source
Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC)	Cardioresp fitness 1 mi walk proto	62814-9	LOINC
Human Phenotype Ontology	Cardiorespiratory arrest	HP:0006543	HPO
Human Phenotype Ontology	Abnormal cardiac exercise stress test	HP:0500018	HPO
caDSR Form	PhenX PX150101 - Cardiorespiratory Fitnessexercise Test Estimate Mile Walk	6170186	caDSR Form

Derived Variables

None

Process and Review

The Expert Review Panel #1 reviewed the measures in the Anthropometrics, Diabetes, Physical Activity and Physical Fitness, and Nutrition and Dietary Supplements domains.

Guidance from the ERP includes:

• Revised descriptions of measure

Back-compatible: no changes to Data Dictionary

Previous version in Toolkit archive (link)

Protocol Name from Source

Kline, G., et al. Estimation of VO2max from a one-mile track walk, gender, age, and body weight. MED SCI SPORT EXER, 1987

Source

Kline, G., Porcari, J., Hintermeister, R., Freedson, P. S., Ward, A., McCarron, R. F., Ross, J., & Rippe, J. M. (1987). Estimation of VO2max from a one-mile track walk, gender, age, and body weight. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 19, 253-259.

General References

Protocol ID

150101

Variables

Export Variables

Variable Name	Variable ID	Variable Description	dbGaP Mapping
PX150101_Age
	PX150101030000	Participant's age	N/A
PX150101_Heart_Rate
	PX150101040000	Participant's heart rate during the last 10 more minutes of the walk as shown on heart rate monitor show less	N/A
PX150101_Sex
	PX150101020000	Participant's sex	N/A
PX150101_Time_To_Complete_Walk_Minutes
	PX150101050100	Time to complete entire 1 mile walk	N/A
PX150101_Time_To_Complete_Walk_Seconds
	PX150101050200	Time to complete entire 1 mile walk	N/A
PX150101_Weight
	PX150101010000	Participant's weight	N/A