FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE (SIX MINUTE WALK TEST-6MWT)

ABSTRACT

The six minute walk test is a simple and cheap test that quantifies functional capacity using the distance walked in six minutes [the six-minute walk distance (6MWD)] at a self-selected pace on a hard surface such as a corridor. This study aimed at evaluating the functional exercise capacity in healthy female adult subjects. Parameters measured included Distance covered in the 6MWT, Oxygen saturation (SpO2), Borg scale and Body mass index (BMI). In this design, Subjects were asked to walk as fast as possible for 6 minutes, walking back and forth on a 30m hallway. The subject's baseline Borg scale and oxygen saturation were measured pre and post the six minute walk test. The number of laps walked which was counted and recorded was then multiplied by 60meters to get the total number of meters walked. Statistical analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism Version 5.03. Result was presented as ± standard error of mean (SEM) in tables and graphs. Student t-test was used to compare means between the dependent against the independent variable. P<0.05 was accepted as significant. Results revealed no statistical significant difference for oxygen saturation (SpO2) but a statistical significant increase for Borg scale among the test groups when compared with control. There was also no significant correlation between the oxygen saturation (SpO2) with the distance covered and oxygen saturation with the BMI. This led to the conclusion that functional exercise capacity (the six minute walk test) had no effect on oxygen saturation (SpO2) but had effect on Borg scale in young female adults and the six minute test may serve as a less expensive cardiopulmonary tool for evaluating the rate of perceived exertion (Borg scale) in clinical settings. Also no effect or correlation was seen when oxygen saturation level was compared with distance covered and BMI after the six minute test among young female adults.