Study of the Six Minute Walk Test in Healthy Adults of 17 to 50 Years

  • Moghi Chaudhari Department of Physiology, Government Medical College Bhavnagar-364001, Gujarat, INDIA.
  • Hemant Kumar Mehta Department of Physiology, Government Medical College Bhavnagar-364001, Gujarat, INDIA.
  • Chinmay Shah Department of Physiology, Government Medical College Bhavnagar-364001, Gujarat, INDIA.
Keywords: Anthropometry, Exercise test, Physiology, Six minute walk distance, Walking, Indian population

Abstract

Background and Aim: Six minute walk test tells about the functional exercise capacity. Six minute walk test can be used in both normal as well as diseased individuals The aim of the present study was to find out effect of six minute walk test in healthy adults of 17-50 years. Methods: The present study is observational and cross section study.240 healthy participants who volunteered to participate were between age of 17-50 years, free from Injury and with no History of hospitalization or chronic disease influencing their exercise capacity were recruited. Anthropometric variables (age, weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI), were recorded before and after the test along with SpO2), Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP) as well as Borg’s Scale. Results: The statistical analysis of the data clearly shows that all the parameters like SpO2, Systolic BP, Diastolic BP and heart rate, significantly increased after the 6 min walk test. The mean values of all the parameters like SpO2, systolic BP, diastolic BP and heart rate after the 6 min walk test were calculated and compared with the mean values of same parameters before the 6 min walk test was performed. The difference in 6 min walk test among different variable like visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, skeletal muscle mass, total body fat as well as BMI were statistically significant except Waist Hip Ratio (WHR). Physiological responses of parameters like SpO2, Systolic BP, Diastolic BP and Heart rate before and after 6 minute walk test were statistically significant. (P˂0.05). Conclusion: Six minute walk test is beneficial to determine cardiac efficiency and early detection of cardiac diseases.

Study of the Six Minute Walk Test in Healthy Adults of 17 to 50 Years
Published
2019-03-06
How to Cite
Chaudhari, M., Mehta, H. K., & Shah, C. (2019). Study of the Six Minute Walk Test in Healthy Adults of 17 to 50 Years. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Physiology, 5(4), 211-215. https://doi.org/10.5530/ijcep.2018.5.4.25