A Study to Know the Average Value of Six Minute Walk Distance Test in Children Aged 7 to 16 Years of Ahmedabad City

Background: The six-minute-walk test (6MWT) is a reliable and valid functional test for assessing exercise tolerance and functional capacity. There is a lack of paediatric references for the 6MWDT in this age group.

Aim: To know an average value of 6MWT for children aged 7 to 16 years.

Method and Materials: Subjects were selected prospectively form two schools and also children visiting Govt. Spine institute.119 children aged 7 to 16years were included in this study. Main outcome measures were the distance walked in 6 minutes and oxygen saturation and heart rate before and after the 6 minutes.

Result: Pulse rate at baseline 91.13+/-8.2 bpm and end test 136 +/- 11.95 bpm. Overall, the mean distance walked in 6 minute was 565.94+/-45.73 m and in male 579.84+/-45.67m and in female550.82+/-41.08 m and measured difference between male and female children for gender variation. Distance walked correlated with age (p<0.01), weight (p<0.01) and height (p< 0.01).

Conclusions: This study provides data on normal children against which the performance of sick children and the response to the therapeutic intervention can be judged.