6-Minute Walk Test on the Treadmill in the Process of Effort Tolerance Assessment in Patients vith COPD

Abstract

Treadmill test, cycloergometer test and walk tests are used to assess effort tolerance in patients with COPD. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is an easy and objective tool frequently used in clinical practice. The 6-minute walk test is used to assess effort tolerance in the process of qualification for an adequate model of pulmonological rehabilitation and as a way of assessing the effects of physiotherapy. The objective of this work was to verify the usefulness of the 6-minute walk test on the treadmill for effort tolerance assessment in patients with COPD. The research included 33 in-patients with COPD (18 males and 15 females) treated in MSWiA Hospital in Glucholazy. Before therapy, all patients were given a 6-minute walk test conducted in the hospital corridor and a 6-minute walk test on the treadmill. Distance, average walk speed and energy expenditure were recorded for each patient. Obtained data was subjected to statistical analysis with the use of the Wilcoxon Test with the level of statistical significance at p < 0.05 for all tests. The comparison of the results achieved by the patients in the 6-minute walk test carried out in the hospital corridor and the results of the 6-minute walk test conducted on the treadmill showed significant differences between these two test methods within the same group of patients. The differences in the values of parameters indicating both distance and MET in the two tests were of statistical significance (p < 0.05). Significantly higher parameter values indicating distance covered and MET were observed in the patients tested in the hospital corridor. The 6-minute walk test on the treadmill should not be used as an alternative to other tests for effort tolerance assessment for the same patients.

Keywords: 6-min walk test, COPD, physiotherapy.