The Use of the 6MWT for Rehabilitation in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Assessing and improving walking abilities is considered one of the most important functional goals of physical therapy in children with cerebral palsy. However, there is still a gap in knowledge regarding the efficacy of treatment targeting the walking capacity of children with CP, as well as their responsiveness to the treatment. The 6 min walk test (6MWT) is a reliable tool to measure this function in children with CP, although less has been known about its potential efficacy to assess changes in the walking abilities associated with interventions. The aim of the present narrative review is to increase the amount of knowledge regarding the use of the 6MWT as a reliable measure to evaluate the effect of interventions on walking capacity in children with CP.

Paediatric Neurology: Current Trends, Rehabilitation, and Future Challenges

“…The FTF should be used as screening tool to early identify preterm children at risk of neurodevelopmental problems and who should be actively referred to a rehabilitation programme. Along the same line of evidence, the review of Romeo et al [2] explored another clinical instrument, the 6 min walk test (6MWT), as a reliable tool to assess the effect of treatment on the walking ability in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The 6MWT was considered to be an effective instrument to assess the changes in walking abilities in children with different types of CP from 5 years old onwards.…”