Comparison of two 6-minute walk tests to assess walking capacity in polio survivors
Merel-Anne Brehm, Suzan Verduijn, Jurgen Bon, Nicoline Bredt, Frans Nollet
Department of Rehabilitation , Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO 22660, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: m.a.brehm@amc.uva.nl
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2264
Lay Abstract
Field walk tests, such as the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the 6-minute walking energy cost test (WECT) are often used to evaluate changes in walking capacity. We studied differences in walking dynamics and test-retest reliability between the 6MWT and the WECT in 33 polio survivors. For each test, the walked distance, heart rate and speed decline were measured. It appeared that the 6MWT and the WECT showed excellent reliability, with slightly better sensitivity to detect change for the 6MWT. Furthermore, we found a 15% higher heart rate at the expense of a 6% decline in walking speed at this heart rate during the 6MWT compared to the WECT. This difference in walking dynamics indicates that the 6MWT and the WECT cannot be used interchangeable.
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