6 Minute Walk Test
This is a sub-maximal exercise test used to assess aerobic capacity and endurance. The distance covered over a time of 6 minutes is used as the outcome by which to compare changes in performance capacity.
What is a 6MWT used for?
The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is primarily used to assess treatment response in moderate-to-severe cardiac or pulmonary diseases and for preoperative risk assessment. Patients walking less than 70% of their predicted distance during preoperative evaluation for pulmonary surgery face a higher risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. The test is also utilized to measure exercise tolerance and prognosis related to various underlying conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and sarcoidosis. Additionally, it aids in the assessment and management of conditions like heart failure and peripheral artery disease. The 6MWT is valuable in cardiac rehabilitation and can reflect clinical improvements. It is also reliable for evaluating functional impairment caused by neurological and muscular conditions, such as fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and is predictive of ambulatory capacity after total knee arthroplasty.