Six-minute walk test in adults with cerebral palsy. A study of reliability.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reliability of a six-minute walk test in adults with cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Four repeated walk tests during two weeks.


METHODS
The tests were conducted in a 40-m-long corridor at a rehabilitation centre for outpatients.


METHODS
Twenty-five adults (9 women and 16 men) with CP. Mean age 36 (26-58) years. Twelve subjects walked with walking aids and 13 without.


METHODS
No intervention.


METHODS
The subjects were instructed to walk as far as possible for 6 min. The distance walked, heart rate and perceived exertion were assessed.


RESULTS
Mean distances walked by the subjects in the four tests were 316, 336, 341 and 345 m. The repeatability between test 1 and the other tests was 66 m, and when the first walk test was excluded 40 m. The coefficient of variation (CV) between test 1 and the other tests varied between 7.1 and 8.7%, and when the first walk test was excluded between 3.7 and 4.5%. Intraclass correlation (ICC 1.1) was 0.97 in the four tests, and when the first walk test was excluded 0.99. Walking distance was longer (P<0.01) and varied less in subjects walking without walking aids (n = 13) compared with subjects using walking aids (n = 12).


CONCLUSIONS
Six-minute walk test showed high reliability, with a repeatability of 40 m. One practice test is recommended, as the walking distance in the first test was significantly shorter (P<0.01) than the other three tests.
Andersson
Christina
C
Neurotec Department, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels allé 23, S-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. christina.andersson@neurotec.ki.se
Asztalos
Lena
L
Mattsson
Eva
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016138:Walking