Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which health factors, functional measures, and pulmonary impairment explain performance on 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) distance in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Another purpose was to determine the effect of disability and age on 6MWT performance and explanatory factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate factors that explain performance on the 6MWT in 64 community-dwelling persons with MSrelated disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] 3.8 e 1.6). Of the 64 participants, 43 (67.2%) exhibited mild disability (EDSS <4.0) and 21 (32.8%) had moderate disability Results: EDSS, ABC, FST, SST, BAL, MVV, MIP, and MEP were significantly associated with 6MWT distance after adjusting for age. Multiple step-wise linear regression analysis revealed that ABC, FST, and BAL were significant and independent explanatory factors of 6MWT distance. ABC and FST explained 75% of the variance in 6MWT performance (R 2 ¼ 0.75). Curvilinear regression analysis revealed that the FST is the most significant explanatory factor for 6MWT distance, explaining 79% of the variance (R 2 ¼ 0.79). Conclusions: 6MWT performance in persons with MS was explained by balance confidence (ABC) and stair-climbing ability (FST). The ABC and FST may be practical clinical measures for explaining walking ability and determining risk for disablement in persons with MS.
RÉ SUMÉObjectif : L'objectif principal de cette é tude é tait de dé terminer jusqu'à quel point les facteurs de santé , les mesures fonctionnelles et les incapacité s pulmonaires influent sur les ré sultats en terme de distance au test de marche de 6 minutes (6MWT) chez les personnes qui souffrent de sclé rose en plaques (SP) et qui sont encore ambulatoires. Un autre objectif consistait à é valuer l'effet de l'incapacité et de l'â ge sur les ré sultats au 6MWT et sur les facteurs explicatifs. Mé thode : Une é tude transversale a é té utilisé e pour é valuer les facteurs expliquant les ré sultats au 6MWT chez 64 personnes avec SP qui vivent dans des habitations communautaires, avec incapacité s lié es à leur maladie (é chelle d'incapacité EDSS 3,8 e 1,6). Au total, 43 sujets (67,2 %) dé montraient une incapacité lé gè re (EDSS < 4,0) et 21 (32,8 %) avaient une incapacité modé ré e (EDSS 4,0-6,5). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.We thank the following individuals for their assistance with the study: Susan Kushner, PT, MS; Anang Chokshi, DPT; Shelley Wagner, DPT; Emily Jackson, DPT; Julie Vasieck, DPT; Shawna Pringle, DPT; and Angela English, DPT. Jane L. Wetzel, PT, PhD: Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio (current); Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (at time of study). Ré sultats : Les tests EDSS, ABC, FST, SST, BAL, MVV, MIP et MEP é taient associé s de maniè re significative à la distance parcourue lors du 6MWT, aprè s ajustement de l'â ge. Une analyse de ré gressio...
