Limited evidence to strong evidence was found for reliability in various chronic conditions .
Little evidence was available for responsiveness and measurement error .
Studies showed large variability in test procedures despite existing guidelines for the performance of the 6MWT .
Evidence for measurement properties of the 6MWT  varies largely among chronic pediatric conditions .
BACKGROUND The Six-Minute Walk Test ( 6MWT ) is increasingly being used as a functional outcome measure for chronic pediatric conditions .
Knowledge about its measurement properties is needed to determine whether it is an appropriate test to use .
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to systematic ally review all published clinimetric studies on the 6MWT in chronic pediatric conditions .
Six-minute walking test to assess exercise tolerance and cardiorespiratory responses during training program in children with congenital heart disease.
This study assessed the exercise tolerance and the cardiorespiratory responses to a training program by the six-minute walk test ( 6'WT ) in children with congenital heart disease ( CHD ) . Seventeen cardiac and 14 healthy children performed maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test ( CPET ) and 6'WT . Reliability of 6'WT was assessed in all subjects ( test-retest ) by Bl and -Altman plots . Cardiac subjects were r and omly divided in training ( T-CHD ) and control groups ( C-CHD ) . T-CHD underwent an individualized training exercise at the ventilatory threshold ( VT ) intensity during 12 weeks . We found that the 6'WT is a reliable and reproducible test . CHD children  walked a lower distance than healthy children before training ( 472.5 + /- 18.1 vs. 548.8 + /- 7.7 m , respectively , p < 0.001 ) . Likewise , power output , oxygen uptake ( V.O ( 2 ) ) , and heart rate ( HR ) at the maximum and the VT levels , were significantly lower in patients ( p < 0.001 ) . After training , a significant improvement of walking distance ( WD ) was shown in T-CHD ( 529.6 + /- 15.3 vs. 467.7 + /- 17.1 m , p < 0.001 ) . The power output , VO2 , HR , and V.E increased slightly ( 6 to 10 % , p > 0.05 ) at peak exercise and significantly at ventilatory threshold level ( p < 0.05 ) in T-CHD . Significant relationships between WD and VO2max as well as VO2 at VT were founded ( p < 0.05 ) . We concluded that the 6'WT is a useful and reliable tool in the assessment and follow-up of functional capacity during rehabilitation program in children with CHD
Limited evidence to strong evidence was found for reliability in various chronic conditions .
Little evidence was available for responsiveness and measurement error .
Studies showed large variability in test procedures despite existing guidelines for the performance of the 6MWT .
Evidence for measurement properties of the 6MWT  varies largely among chronic pediatric conditions .
BACKGROUND The Six-Minute Walk Test ( 6MWT ) is increasingly being used as a functional outcome measure for chronic pediatric conditions .
Knowledge about its measurement properties is needed to determine whether it is an appropriate test to use .
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to systematic ally review all published clinimetric studies on the 6MWT in chronic pediatric conditions .