Effect of a 6-month brisk walking program on walking endurance in sedentary and physically deconditioned women aged 60 or older: A randomized trial

Background Walking endurance is a predictor of healthy ageing. Objective To examine if a 6-month brisk walking program can increase walking endurance in sedentary and physically deconditioned older women. Trial design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Women recruited from public meetings aimed at promoting physical activity in women aged 60 or older. Subjects 121 women aged 65.7 ± 4.3 years, with sedentary lifestyle (Physical Activity Questionnaire for the Elderly score < 9.4), and a 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) below normal value based on their gender, age, and body weight, and weight. Methods Women were randomly assigned to a 150 min/week brisk walking program (two supervised sessions and one session on their own per week) for six months (exercisers) (n=61) or a control group with physical activity allowed freely (n=60). Outcome The primary outcome was relative change in 6MWD. Results 54/61 exercisers and 55/60 control subjects completed the program and data analysis was possible for 51 exercisers and 47 controls. At baseline, 6MWD was on average 23.1% and 22.5% below age-matched norms in exercisers and controls, respectively. Attendance rate for supervised sessions was 92% in exercisers. The 6MWD increased more significantly in exercisers than in controls (mean increase of 41.5% vs 11.0 %; p<0.0001). Over the 6-month program, 38 exercisers (74.5%) vs 5 controls (10.6%) had a 6MWD over the age-matched norm (p<0.0001). Exercisers with the highest tertile of 6MWD improvement (>46%) were those with baseline lowest values of 6MWD (p=0.001) and highest values of body mass index (BMI) (p<0.01). Conclusion Present results support recommendation that brisk walking programs should be encouraged to improve walking endurance in physically deconditioned women aged 60 or older, especially in those with high BMI.