The 6-minute walk. A simple test with clinical application

Pa, Poole-Wilson

doi:10.1053/euhj.1999.1970

Cited by 35 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The performance is influenced by several factors principally by patient's motivation. Age, gender, length of follow-up, adequate standardization of the protocol and the degree of encouragement given to the patient are all likely to influence the results of the test [57]. The relation between pVO 2 and distance walked at 6MWT has been demonstrated to be non linear and in particular a wide variation has been shown in patients with pVO 2 comprised between 10 and 20 ml/min kg -1 although a closer relation exist in patients with more severe heart failure.…”

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Six minute walk test: a simple and useful test to evaluate functional capacity in patients with heart failure

Rostagno¹,

Gensini²

2008

Intern Emerg Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In heart failure survival is closely related to functional capacity. Peak O2 consumption at cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of exercise tolerance. Since >70% of patients with heart failure, usually elderly or with significant comorbidities, are referred to Departments of Internal Medicine where facilities for cardiopulmonary test are rarely available, CPET may be performed in <5% of the patients. Six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been proposed as a simple, inexpensive, reproducible alternative to CPET. The 6MWT reproduces the activity of daily life and this is particularly relevant in elderly patients who usually develop symptoms below their theoretical maximal exercise capacity. Despite some limits 6MWT is attractive for patients referred to Departments of Internal Medicine allowing an objective evaluation of exercise tolerance, a better prognostic evaluation and a guide to evaluate response to medical treatment.

show abstract

Section: Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Six minute walk test: a simple and useful test to evaluate functional capacity in patients with heart failure

Rostagno¹,

Gensini²

2008

Intern Emerg Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The patient was an avid cyclist, cycling an average of 1667 km per month prior to surgery. A battery of tests, including a burst superimposition test to measure quadriceps strength and activation, the timed up and go (TUG), 25 a stair-climbing test (SCT), 18 the 6-minute walk test (6MW), 12,26 and self-report questions were administered preoperatively for inclusion into the clinical trial. His right quadriceps maximum volitional isometric contraction force (MVIC) was 997 N with 92% activation, while the left knee strength was 793 N with 85% activation.…”

Section: Patient Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Improve Activation Deficits in a Patient With Chronic Quadriceps Strength Impairments Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Petterson¹,

Snyder‐Mackler²

2006

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Study Design: Case report. Background: Long-term deficits in quadriceps femoris muscle strength and impaired muscle activation are common among individuals with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Failure to address strength-related impairments results in poor surgical and functional outcomes, which may accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis in other lower extremity joints. The purpose of the current case report was to implement a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) treatment protocol in conjunction with an intense weight-training program, with the aim of reversing persistent quadriceps muscle impairments after TKA. Case Description: The patient was a 62-year-old male cyclist 12 months following simultaneous, bilateral TKA with impairments in left quadriceps strength and volitional muscle activation. His left quadriceps strength was 26% weaker than his right and central activation ratio (CAR) of his left quadriceps was 13% lower than his right quadriceps CAR. NMES to the left quadriceps was implemented for 6 weeks, in addition to an intense volitional weight-training program with emphasis on unilateral lower extremity exercises. Outcomes: The patient demonstrated a 25% improvement in left quadriceps femoris maximal volitional force output following 16 treatments of combined NMES and volitional strength training over a 6-week period. The patient's volitional muscle activation improved from a CAR of 0.83 before treatment to 0.97 after treatment. At discharge from physical therapy and at his 18-month postoperative follow-up, the patient's left quadriceps strength was only 4% lower than his right quadriceps strength. At the 24-month follow-up, the patient's left quadriceps strength was 6% stronger than his right quadriceps strength. Discussion: The patient was able to achieve symmetrical quadriceps strength and complete muscle activation following 6 weeks of NMES and volitional strength training. An intense strengthening program may have the potential to reverse persistent strength-related impairments following TKA.

show abstract

“…The classic 6MWT can only be used as a nonspecific assessment of functional capacity because cardiopulmonary and gas exchange responses to exercise cannot be determined with this test [6]. In particular, the assessment of the change in oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) in the initial phase of the 6MWT (VO 2 on-kinetics) may provide important information because most of the activities of daily living require a repetitive transition from rest to submaximal exercise intensity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiopulmonary and Gas-Exchange Responses during the Six-Minute Walk Test in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Gestel

Baty²,

Rausch-Osthof³

et al. 2014

Respiration

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is representative of daily life activities and reflects the functional capacity of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Information on the cardiopulmonary and gas exchange responses to the 6MWT is limited. Objectives: We aimed to analyze the breath-by-breath cardiopulmonary and gas exchange responses of patients with COPD during the 6MWT. We also investigated the extent to which parameters reflecting cardiopulmonary and gas exchange function are associated with exercise capacity. Methods: The oxygen uptake (VO₂) kinetics of patients were obtained using mobile telemetric cardiopulmonary monitoring during a 6MWT. A new mean response time (MRT) index was developed to quantify VO₂ on-kinetics by correcting MRT for work rate (wMRT). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association between variables reflecting cardiopulmonary and gas exchange function and exercise capacity [6-min walking distance (6MWD) and VO₂ at steady state (VO_2SS)]. Results: In 72 COPD patients (29 females) with a mean (SD) age of 65 (10) years, FEV₁ 44 (14) % predicted exercise capacity as assessed by VO_2SS (p = 0.003) was significantly reduced across the stages of COPD. The criteria for maximal effort during the 6MWT were fulfilled by 82% of the patients. After adjustment for covariates, wMRT was independently associated with 6MWD (p = 9.7 × 10^-5) and VO_2SS (p = 5.5 × 10^-10). Conclusions: As wMRT mostly depends on the rate of increase of pulmonary blood flow, our results underline the fact that cardiocirculatory function may play a significant role in exercise tolerance in patients with COPD. Our findings imply that modification of cardiocirculatory function may be beneficial in the treatment of COPD patients and improve their outcome more than anticipated previously.

show abstract

The 6-minute walk. A simple test with clinical application

Cited by 35 publications

References 4 publications

Six minute walk test: a simple and useful test to evaluate functional capacity in patients with heart failure

Six minute walk test: a simple and useful test to evaluate functional capacity in patients with heart failure

The Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Improve Activation Deficits in a Patient With Chronic Quadriceps Strength Impairments Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Cardiopulmonary and Gas-Exchange Responses during the Six-Minute Walk Test in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About