eS1084 WCPT Congress 2015 / Physiotherapy 2015; Volume 101, Supplement 1 eS833–eS1237 Ethics approval: Not required. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.1973 Research Report Poster Presentation Number: RR-PO-01-22-Sun Sunday 3 May 2015 13:00 Exhibit halls 401–403 A WHEELED WALKER IMPROVES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE L.W.C. Ng 1,2,3 , S. Jenkins 1,2,4 , N. Cecins 2,4 , P. Eastwood 1,5,6 , K. Hill 1,5 1 Curtin University of Technology, Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Perth, Australia; 2 Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Physiotherapy, Perth, Australia; 3 Singapore General Hospital, Physiotherapy, Singapore, Singapore; 4 Lung Institute of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; 5 Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Pulmonary Physiology, Perth, Australia; 6 University of Western Australia, School of Anatomy and Human Biology, Perth, Australia Background: People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often have marked functional limitation due to intolerable dyspnea. The use of a wheeled walker (WW) has been shown to improve 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and reduces dyspnea on completing a 6-minute walk test. To date no study has evaluated the effects of a WW on daily physical activity (PA) in the community. Purpose: To evaluate the effect of providing a WW for use in the community on daily PA in people with COPD. Methods: A randomised cross-over study was under- taken in participants with COPD. All participants had a 6MWD ≤ 450 m and had recently completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP). During the supervised walk- ing training performed as part of the PRP, participants were encouraged to use the WW to become familiar with the device. Each participant completed two 5-week Phases: one with a WW for use at home and the other without a WW. The order of use of the WW was randomised. Measures of accelerometer-based daily PA (Stepwatch Activity Monitor) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire were completed at the end of each Phase and compared using paired t-tests. Dis- tance walked using the WW was measured via an odometer attached to the device. Results: 19 participants (11 males; aged [mean ± SD] 72 ± 8 years; forced expiratory volume in one second 38 ± 19%predicted) completed the study. The average dis- tance walked each day with the WW was 958 ± 805 m. Participants took more steps with the WW than without (mean difference between phases was 732 steps per day [95% con- fidence interval: 139 to 1325 steps per day]). The use of the WW did not affect HRQoL. Conclusion(s): These data demonstrate that providing a WW to selected patients with COPD increases their PA. Implications: Providing a WW to people with COPD who are characterised by functional limitation of ≤70% predicted 6MWD and who have been familiarised with its use during supervised walking training as part of a PRP, has the potential to increase the number of steps taken each day and might therefore be a useful aid to increase PA in the community. Keywords: Wheeled walker; Physical activity; COPD Funding acknowledgements: Sir Charles Gairdner Hos- pital Research Fund. Ethics approval: Ethics was granted in Australia: Curtin University, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Royal Perth Hos- pital, Bentley Hospital, and Swan District Hospital. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2015.03.1974 Research Report Poster Presentation Number: RR-PO-01-23-Sat Saturday 2 May 2015 12:15 Exhibit halls 401–403 MINIMAL DETECTABLE DIFFERENCE FOR THE ENDURANCE SHUTTLE WALK TEST PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING WALKING TRAINING IN PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE L.W.C. Ng 1,2,3 , S. Watts 4 , Z. Mckeough 4 , J. Alison 4 , S. Jenkins 1,2 , K. Hill 1 1 Curtin University of Technology, Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Perth, Australia; 2 Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Physiotherapy, Perth, Australia; 3 Singapore General Hospital, Physiotherapy, Singapore, Singapore; 4 University of Sydney, Physiotherapy, Sydney, Australia Background: The minimal detectable difference (MDD) is the smallest difference in an outcome of interest that is noticeable to the average person after an intervention. The MDD can be determined using anchor or distribution-based approaches. Anchor-based approaches are often considered superior as they consider the person’s perception of their change in the outcome. Although the endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) is a highly responsive test of walking endurance, the MDD for ESWT performance following exercise training has not been convincingly determined. Purpose: To determine the MDD for the ESWT following supervised ground walking training in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Participants performed supervised ground walking training, for 30–45 minutes, 2–3 times/week for 8–10 weeks. The ESWT was performed before and after the training period. Participants were asked to rate the change in