title: Influence of stroke-related impairments on performance in 6-minute walk test.
abstract: The 6-minute walk test is a clinical measure of endurance, but it is not known if it is useful for individuals with mobility impairments secondary to stroke. Purposes of this study were to assess which stroke-related physical impairments influence performance in the 6-minute walk test and to evaluate if this test provides a measure of functional walking endurance after stroke. Seventy-two adults poststroke completed the 6-minute walk as part of baseline testing for a randomized intervention clinical trial. Pulse and blood pressure were taken before and after the walk. Subjects walked an average of 216 m in 6 minutes. The Fugl-Meyer lower-limb motor score and the Berg Balance score explained 45 percent of the variance in distance walked. Pulse and systolic blood pressure increased significantly with the 6-minute walk. Neuromuscular impairments poststroke contribute to diminished performance in the 6-minute walk test. Pulse and blood pressure pre- and posttesting can indicate cardiovascular stress.
authors.affiliation: Center on Aging, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160-7601, USA. ppohl@kumc.edu
authors.forename: Patricia S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Pamela W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Subashan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perera
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sue Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Studenski
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003943:Diagnostic Techniques, Neurological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking