Abstract
Casey AF, Wang X, Osterling K. Test-retest reliability of the 6-minute walk test in
individuals with Down syndrome.
Objectives
To evaluate the reliability of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in individuals with Down
syndrome and explore factors affecting walking distance.
Design
Four repeated walk tests in the span of 2 weeks including 2 practice walks.
Setting
All tests were carried out in a 40-meter corridor at a university sport complex.
Participants
Adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome (N=55) aged 11 to 26 years.
Intervention
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure
Participants were instructed to walk as far as possible for the duration of 6 minutes.
Distance walked, heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived exertion were measured
across 4 tests (t1, t2, t3, and t4).
Results
The walking distances for t1, t2, t3, and t4 averaged 395, 428, 433, and 436 meters,
respectively. The 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) during t1 and t2 was significantly
different from that during t3 and t4 (t54=−6.475, P<.001). Repeated analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the
distance walked in t3 and t4 (433±64m vs 436±68m) (F1,54=2.439, P=.124). Body mass index as well as levels of intellectual disability and physical
activity all affected the distance walked to different degrees.
Conclusions
The 6MWT showed good test-retest reliability and increased the walking distance after
2 practice walks, emphasizing the need to account for a learning effect among people
with Down syndrome. Reported 6MWD appears lower than that previously reported for
individuals without Down syndrome.
Key Words
List of Abbreviations:
ANOVA (analysis of variance), BMI (body mass index), DS (Down syndrome), ICC (intraclass correlation), 6MWD (6-minute walk distance), 6MWT (6-minute walk test)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 09, 2012
Footnotes
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
In-press corrected proof published online on Jun 19, 2012, at www.archives-pmr.org.
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
