Current data confirm that the 6MWT , ISWT and ESWT are valid , reliable and responsive to change with some interventions .
However , results are sensitive to small changes in methodology .
Field walking tests are commonly employed to evaluate exercise capacity , assess prognosis and evaluate treatment response in chronic respiratory diseases .
In recent years , there has been a wealth of new literature pertinent to the conduct of the 6-min walk test ( 6MWT ) , and a growing evidence base describing the incremental and endurance shuttle walk tests ( ISWT and ESWT , respectively ) .
The aim of this document is to describe the st and ard operating procedures for the 6MWT , ISWT and ESWT , which can be consistently employed by clinicians and research ers .
The effect of helium and oxygen on exercise performance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized crossover trial.
RATIONALE Breathing supplemental oxygen reduces breathlessness during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) . Replacing nitrogen with helium reduces expiratory flow resistance and may improve lung emptying . Combining these treatments should be independently effective . OBJECTIVES Study the effect of changing oxygen or helium concentration in inspired gas during exercise in patients with stable COPD . METHODS In 82 patients ( mean age , 69.7 yr ; mean FEV(1 ) , 42.6 % predicted ) , we measured endurance shuttle walking distance , resting and exercise oxygen saturation , and end-exercise dyspnea ( Borg scale ) while patients breathed  Heliox28  ( 72 % He/28 % O(2 ) ) , Heliox21 ( 79 % He/21 % O(2 ) ) , Oxygen28 ( 72 % N(2)/28 % O(2 ) ) , or medical air ( 79 % N(2)/21 % O(2 ) ) . Gases were administered using a r and omized , blinded , crossover design via a face mask and an inspiratory dem and valve . RESULTS Breathing Heliox28 increased walking distance ( mean+/-SD , 147+/-150 m ) and reduced Borg score ( -1.28+/-1.30 ) more than any other gas mixture . Heliox21 significantly increased walking distance ( 99+/-101 m ) and reduced dyspnea ( Borg score , -0.76+/-0.77 ) compared with medical air . These changes were similar to those breathing Oxygen28 . The effects of helium and oxygen in Heliox28 were independent . The increase in walking distance while breathing Heliox28 was inversely related to baseline FEV(1 ) breathing air . CONCLUSION Reducing inspired gas density can improve exercise performance in COPD as much as increasing inspired oxygen . These effects can be combined as Heliox28 and are most evident in patients with more severe airflow obstruction
Current data confirm that the 6MWT , ISWT and ESWT are valid , reliable and responsive to change with some interventions .
However , results are sensitive to small changes in methodology .
Field walking tests are commonly employed to evaluate exercise capacity , assess prognosis and evaluate treatment response in chronic respiratory diseases .
In recent years , there has been a wealth of new literature pertinent to the conduct of the 6-min walk test ( 6MWT ) , and a growing evidence base describing the incremental and endurance shuttle walk tests ( ISWT and ESWT , respectively ) .
The aim of this document is to describe the st and ard operating procedures for the 6MWT , ISWT and ESWT , which can be consistently employed by clinicians and research ers .