Six-minute walk test: A tool for assessing mobility in frail subjects

Original Article

J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls 2016 Dec; 1(4):73-76 Copied!

10.22540/JFSF-01-073 Copied!

Jannis Papathanasiou^1,2, Yannis Dionyssiotis³, Petya Kasnakova⁴, Stefan Yanev¹, David Kanchev¹, Hristina Milanova⁵, Troycho Troev⁵

Department of Kinesiotherapy, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria
Department of Medical Imaging, Allergology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department, European Interbalkan Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece
Department of Rehabilitation, Medical College, Medical University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria

Keywords:

Abstract

Objective

Corridor tests (CT) are validated tools used to measure the effects of rehabilitation interventions in frail elderly subjects. Recently the six-minute walk test (6MWT) was introduced in the assessment of frail individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of the 6MWT as a tool for measurement the functional capacity and mobility in different frail populations with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods

In this study 6MWT was applied in seventy-five (n=75) individuals randomized into two training groups for a 12th week period; group A (n=38) performed high-intensity aerobic interval training (HIAIT), while group B (n=37) fulfilled moderate intensive continuous training (MICT), for measuring the impact in the effectiveness in two different intensity cardiac rehabilitation (CR) interventions in patients with CHF.

Results

The data indicate that the average six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in both groups (HIAIT and MICT) before the start of the CR programs was no statistically significant between them (p>0.05). A significant increase in the 6MWD in both CR groups was found after the final of 12-week of CR program (p<0.001). The increase obtained in HIAIT group was higher than the increase observed in MICT group (14.53% vs. 10.6%, respectively).

Conclusion

The 6MWT is a safe tool for assessing the effectiveness of CR interventions on functional capacity and mobility in different frail populations with CHF.