Reliability of the six-minute walk test in people with fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the test-retest reliability of the 6-minute walk test in people with fibromyalgia.


METHODS
Twenty-six subjects (27-59 years of age) performed 3 walk tests over consecutive days before and after a 4-week treatment program. Reliability was determined using a one-way repeated measures analysis of variance and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2,1).


RESULTS
Reliability of the 6-minute walk test was excellent both at program intake (ICC2,1 = 0.91) and program completion (ICC2,1 = 0.98). On program intake, significant differences (P < 0.01) were found between test 1 (478 +/- 61 m) and test 2 (492 +/- 57 m), and between test 1 and test 3 (495 +/- 60 m). On program completion, there were no significant differences across the 3 replicate tests (507 m, 505 m, and 509 m).


CONCLUSIONS
The 6-minute walk test is a reliable measure in people with fibromyalgia. In this study, two trials were required to achieve a stable walk performance before a treatment program. This learning effect was not present following the intervention.
Pankoff
B A
BA
London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
Overend
T J
TJ
Lucy
S D
SD
White
K P
KP
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014163:Transfer, Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking