Comparison between an indoor and an outdoor 6-minute walk test among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of an outdoor 6-minute walk test (6MWT) as a measure of functional status among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to examine the relationship between performance on an indoor and an outdoor 6MWT.


METHODS
An experimental, repeated-measures crossover design. Subjects were studied on 2 separate days in the same week. Two 6MWTs-one indoors and the other outdoors-were performed on each study day, with a rest in between. The test order was randomly selected on the first day and reversed on the second day. Outdoor tests were performed on days of moderate weather conditions (mean temperature +/- standard deviation, 21 degrees +/-3 degrees C; mean wind speed, 15+/-7km/h; no precipitation) and on a flat surface (sidewalk).


METHODS
Outpatient rehabilitation program in Ontario.


METHODS
Eighteen subjects with COPD (10 men, 8 women; age, 70+/-8y), 5 using supplemental oxygen at rest (forced expiratory volume in 1s, 1.0+/-0.3L; 42%+/-8% of predicted).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Distance walked in 6 minutes (in meters), duration of rest (in seconds), and change in rate of perceived dyspnea.


RESULTS
There was no significant effect of setting (indoors vs outdoors) on distance walked (394+/-86m vs 398+/-84m, P=0.4), duration of rest (13+/-28s vs 9+/-20s, P=0.4), or change in rate of perceived dyspnea (2.3+/-1.7 vs 2.3+/-2.0, P=0.8). Testing day had no significant effect on walk test performance (all P>0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the 6MWT performed outdoors within reasonable climatic parameters may be reflective of 6MWT performance indoors.
Brooks
Dina
D
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Toronto, ON, Canada. dina.brooks@utoronto.ca
Solway
Sherra
S
Weinacht
Krisztina
K
Wang
David
D
Thomas
Scott
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking