The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a sub-maximal exercise test that measures a person’s aerobic capacity and endurance. It’s a safe and useful test that can help doctors:
- Evaluate a person’s general health
- Assess the effectiveness of current treatments
- Monitor a person’s body’s response to treatments for heart, lung, and other health problems
The 6MWT involves walking at a normal pace for six minutes. The primary measurement is the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Doctors can compare a person’s score with previous results to check for improvements:
- A declining score may suggest that a condition is progressing
- A substantial increase in the score may indicate that a treatment is effective
The 6MWT was developed by the American Thoracic Society and officially introduced in 2002. It’s considered safer, easier to administer, and better tolerated than other walk tests.
Here are some tips for conducting the 6MWT:
- The patient should walk alone
- Don’t use a treadmill where the patient can adjust the speed or slope
- Don’t use an oval or circular track
- Use standardized phrases while speaking to the patient
- Count the laps with a lap counter