Project description:Functional tests such as Motor Function Measure-32 (MFM-32), supine to stand, ascend/descend stairs permit the assessment of task-specific motor function in neuromuscular disease (NMD). The 6-min walk test (6MWT), though functional, is primarily used to assess endurance and disease progression in children with neuromuscular disorders. Barriers to 6MWT administration, in this population, can include reduced attention span due to age and inability to tolerate test length due to weakness. We propose task-specific functional deficits are related to endurance. Additionally, the 2-min walk test (2MWT) could effectively replace the 6MWT in this population. Seventy-seven participants, ages 5-18, with a variety of neuromuscular disorders performed the 6MWT, timed functional tests (TFT), and the MFM-32. Correlation and paired t-test analyses were used to compare the distance walked in the first 2 min (2MWD) to the distance walked in the entire 6 min (6MWD) and to the functional outcome measures above. The 2MWD strongly correlated with 6MWD and the other outcome measures. Paired t-test analysis also showed that the 2MWD did not differ from the distance walked in the last 2 min of the 6MWT. Although equivalence testing could not reject the claim that this difference exceeded the upper practical limit of 9.5 m, it only showed a modest overestimation of the 4-6MWD compared with the 2MWD. Together, our results support the ability of the 2MWD to predict the 6MWD, specifically in the pediatric neuromuscular disease population.
Project description:[Purpose] The main objective of this study was to determine the contributions and extent to which certain physical measurements explain performance in the 6-minute walk test in healthy older adults living in a geriatric nursing home and for older adults dwelling in the community. [Subjects] The subjects were 122 adults aged 65 and older with no cognitive impairment who were independent in their daily activities. [Methods] The 6-minute walk test, age, body mass index, walking speed, chair stand test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up-and-Go test, rectus femoris cross-sectional area, Short Physical Performance Battery, and hand-grip strength were examined. [Results] Strong significant associations were found between mobility, lower-limb function, balance, and the 6-minute walk test. A stepwise multiple regression on the entire sample showed that lower-limb function was a significant and independent predictor for the 6-minute walk test. Additionally, lower-limb function was a strong predictor for the 6-minute walk test in our nursing home group, whereas mobility was found to be the best predictor in our community-dwelling group. [Conclusion] Better lower-limb function, balance, and mobility result in a higher distance covered by healthy older adults. Lower-limb function and mobility appeared to best determine walking performance in the nursing home and community-dwelling groups, respectively.
Project description:Although the 6 min walk test (6MWT) is well-established for assessing desaturation in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), it cannot be easily performed in primary healthcare settings. This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of the 1 min sit-to-stand test (1STST) for assessing desaturation during 6MWT in ILD patients with normal resting blood oxygen levels. We included 116 patients, and the pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) for both methods was analyzed. The SpO2 nadir during the 1STST and 6MWT correlated strongly (ρ = 0.82). The frequency of patients with nadir SpO2 < 90% was consistent for both tests (κ = 0.82). 1STST was superior to diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide in detecting desaturation during the 6MWT. These findings were similarly stratified according to performance status or dyspnea scale. The 1STST can easily measure exertional desaturation in ILD patients with normal resting blood oxygen levels and is an alternative to the 6MWT.
Project description:Background and objectiveAlthough the six-minute walk test (6MWT) is widely used as a measure of exercise capacity, it may not be applicable in some settings and populations. This issue has led to increased use of the two-minute walk test (2MWT) to assess exercise capacity. The main objective of this study is to establish reference equations for the two-minute walk distance (2MWD) in healthy Chinese adults aged 18-85 years.MethodsA total of 973 volunteers took part in the study. We obtained verbal consent from all participants before the test, and the study design was approved by the ethics committees of Wenzhou People's Hospital. The participants performed two 2MWTs using a standardized protocol, and the longer distance was used for further analysis. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed using age, height and weight as independent variables and was used to establish the reference equations for the 2MWD in the male and female groups.ResultsThe mean walking distance for all participants was 199.1±25.81 m. Age and height were identified as independent factors that influenced the 2MWD, and they explained 35% and 34% of the variance in distance for the male and female groups, respectively.ConclusionThis study resulted in determination of reference equations for predicting the 2MWD in healthy Chinese adults. These 2MWD standards will provide useful references for medical care in some settings and populations.
Project description:BackgroundIn spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), weakness, decreased endurance, and fatigue limit mobility. Scales have been developed to measure function across the wide spectrum of disease severity. However, these scales typically are observer dependent, and scores are based on sums across Likert-scaled items. The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is an objective, easily administered, and standardized evaluation of functional exercise capacity that has been proven reliable in other neurologic disorders and in children.MethodsTo study the performance of the 6MWT in SMA, 18 ambulatory participants were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Clinical measures were 6MWT, 10-m walk/run, Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale-Expanded (HFMSE), forced vital capacity, and handheld dynamometry. Associations between the 6MWT total distance and other outcomes were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficients. A paired t test was used to compare the mean distance walked in the first and sixth minutes.ResultsThe 6MWT was associated with the HFMSE score (r = 0.83, p < 0.0001), 10-m walk/run (r = -0.87, p < 0.0001), and knee flexor strength (r = 0.62, p = 0.01). Gait velocity decreased during successive minutes in nearly all participants. The average first minute distance (57.5 m) was significantly more than the sixth minute distance (48 m) (p = 0.0003).ConclusionThe Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) can be safely performed in ambulatory patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), correlates with established outcome measures, and is sensitive to fatigue-related changes. The 6MWT is a promising candidate outcome measure for clinical trials in ambulatory subjects with SMA.
Project description:IntroductionThe 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a well-established clinical assessment of functional endurance, validated as a measure of walking ability in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The current availability of disease-modifying therapies for SMA indicates a growing need for normative reference data to compare SMA patients with healthy controls.MethodsThe literature was searched in two scientific databases. Studies were evaluated and selected based on adherence to American Thoracic Society guidelines for administering the 6MWT. Reference equations from the selected studies were applied to 6MWT data collected from SMA patients to calculate and compare % predicted values.ResultsThree pediatric and six adult studies were selected for comparison. The % predicted values using the pediatric and adult equations ranged from 47.7 ± 18.2% to 67.6 ± 26.2% and 43.0 ± 17.9% to 59.5 ± 26.2%, respectively, and were significantly different (P < 0.001).DiscussionResults suggest significant variability between % predicted values derived from published reference equations in children and adults, despite adherence to 6MWT standardization.
Project description:ObjectiveTo determine the effects of providing battery-powered ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor exoskeleton assistance on six-minute walk test performance and efficiency in children and young adults with cerebral palsy by comparing distance walked under exoskeleton assisted (Assisted) and no device (Shod) walking conditions, and explore the acclimation rate to maximal walking with ankle exoskeleton assistance.ResultsSix-minute walk test performance significantly improved under the final Assisted condition test compared to the Shod condition (42 ± 27 m, p = 0.02), surpassing the minimum clinically important difference range for children and young adults with CP. There was no difference in walking efficiency (-0.06 ± 0.1, p = 0.3). Participants had an average acclimation rate of 19.6 m per session.ConclusionsPowered ankle assistance can significantly improve six-minute walk test performance in individuals with mild-to-moderate gait impairment from CP, supporting the use of this intervention to improve functional mobility and walking capacity in this patient population.
Project description:ObjectiveTo examine the feasibility, the criterion, and the construct convergent validity of the 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT) and the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MeWT) against the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) to assess walking capacity in people with cancer. The criterion concurrent validity of a self-test version of the 10MeWT (10MeWTself-test) was also evaluated against the 10MeWT.MethodsFifty-six people with cancer performed the 2MWT, the 10MeWT at comfortable and fast speeds, the 6MWT, and the 10MeWTself-test. The feasibility of the tests was assessed using safety, adverse events, space requirements, time taken to administer and interpret the tool, equipment or training required, cost, and portability as criteria. Validity was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients and Bland Altman plots.ResultsThe 2MWT, 6MWT, 10MeWT, and 10MeWTself-test were feasible for people with cancer. The 2MWT and the 10MeWT results were moderately to strongly correlated with the 6MWT results (0.61 < r < 0.84, p < 0.001). The 10MeWTself-test results were strongly correlated with the 10MeWT results at comfortable and fast speeds (r = 0.99, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe 2MWT, 10MeWT, and 10MeWTself-test are simple, rapid, and feasible tests for use in people with cancer. The strong correlation between the 2MWT and 6MWT results indicates that the 2MWT can be used as an alternative walking capacity assessment tool. The 10MeWT results moderately correlated with those of the other two tests, suggesting that it partially measures the same construct of walking capacity in walking-independent outpatients with cancer. The 10MeWTself-test showed promising results but needs further investigations in ecological settings.
Project description:BackgroundThe 6-minute walk test (6MWT) independently predicts congestive heart failure severity, death, and heart failure hospitalizations, but must be administered in clinic by qualified staff on a premeasured course. As part of the Health eHeart Study, we sought to develop and validate a self-administered 6MWT mobile application (SA-6MWTapp) for independent use at home by patients.Methods and resultsWe performed a validation study of an SA-6MWTapp in 103 participants. In phase 1 (n=52), we developed a distance-estimation algorithm for the SA-6MWTapp by comparing step counts from an Actigraph and measured distance on a premeasured 6MWT course with step counts and estimated distance obtained simultaneously from our SA-6MWTapp (best estimation algorithm, r=0.89 [95% confidence interval 0.78-0.99]). In phase 2, 32 participants (including those with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension) used the SA-6MWTapp independently in clinic, and the distance estimated by the SA-6MWTapp was compared with the measured distance (r=0.83 [95% confidence interval 0.79-0.92]). In phase 3, 19 patients with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension consecutively enrolled from clinic performed 3.2±1 SA-6MWTapp tests per week at home over 2 weeks. Distances estimated from the SA-6MWTapp during home 6MWTs were highly repeatable (coefficient of variation =4.6%) and correlated with in-clinic-measured distance (r=0.88 [95% confidence interval 0.87-0.89]). Usability surveys performed during the second (in-clinic) and third (at-home) phases demonstrated that the SA-6MWTapp was simple and easy to use independently.ConclusionsAn SA-6MWTapp is easy to use and yields accurate repeatable measurements in the clinic and at home.
Project description:BackgroundMeasurement of oxygen saturation (SpO2) during the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) could be impacted by the measurement site.AimsTo compare SpO2 and heart rate (HR) between forehead and finger sensors during the 6MWT. Sensor readings were also to be compared for signal quality and with capillary blood gas (CBG) pre and post 6MWT.Method80 subjects with pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) and/or interstitial lung disease (ILD) performed the 6MWT. Pulse oximetry was recorded at 30 s intervals. CBG was taken pre and post 6MWT to determine capillary oxygen saturation (SCO2).ResultsThe forehead sensor recorded higher values for SpO2 (p < 0.001) and HR (p < 0.01) compared with the finger sensor during the 6MWT. For both sensors, the demonstrated bias compared to CBG post 6MWT was higher and more variable in subjects who desaturated. During the 6MWT there was a higher occurrence (p < 0.001) of poor signal quality in the finger sensor compared with the forehead sensor.ConclusionThis study suggests that the sensor site can impact pulse oximetry readings. The variance in bias suggests pulse oximetry may not accurately reflect SCO2 measurements particularly in subjects who desaturate during 6MWT.