Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine (1) the effect of different walkway distances, and (2)
turning directions on the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in subjects with stroke.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation center.
PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=26) with chronic stroke. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.
Total distance covered and number of turns in the 6MWT
with different walkway lengths (10-, 20-, and 30-m walkway distances) and turning
directions (turning to affected side and unaffected side); rate of perceived
exertion (RPE) using Borg Scale, and heart rate (HR) using handheld pulse
oximeter recorded before and immediately after the test. RESULTS: The distance
covered and the number of turns in the 6MWT were significantly different between
different walkway lengths (P<.05), with the longest distance covered and lowest
number of turns in the 30-m walkway distance. For all walkway lengths, turning to
the affected or unaffected side did not result in significant differences in the
distance covered and the number of turns in the 6MWT. Significant increases were
found between the pretest and posttest for the HR and RPE (P<.05) in all testing
conditions. There was no significant effect of walkway distance and turning
direction on the change in HR and RPE between the 6 conditions of the 6MWT.
CONCLUSIONS: Different walkway distances have a significant effect on the
distance covered in the 6MWT, whereas turning direction did not significantly
affect the distance covered in the 6MWT.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS