Shuttle walking test como instrumento de avaliação da capacidade funcional: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

Introduction: The Shuttle walking test (SWT) was originally developed for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is also been used to evaluate the functional capacity in other health conditions. Objective: To do a review about the use of the Shuttle walking test to assess the functional capacity. Materials and Methods: A literature review was performed in Medline, Lilacs and Scielo considering the keywords: Shuttle walking test, validity, reproducibility, reliability, sensibility, minimum clinically significance difference and prognostic. Results: Thirty seven articles mentioned the SWT as a variable of interest. Besides COPD it was used to evaluate patients with heart failure, coronary arterial disease, heart transplantation, peripheral arterial obstructive disease, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and patients with pacemakers. Conclusions: The SWT is valid, reliable and safe to assess cardiorespiratory fitness and functional capacity in different health conditions. It is usable on clinical practice to evaluate responses to treatments and also for prognostic.