Good repeatability ( for the 6MWT and ESWT ) and reproducibility ( for the 6MWT , 12-minute walk test , ISWT , ESWT , and incremental cycle ergometer test ) were reported by most studies assessing these tests , providing patients were familiarized with them beforeh and .
The 6MWT , ISWT , and particularly the ESWT were reported to be sensitive to therapeutic intervention .
Exercise tests are often used to evaluate the functional status of patients with COPD .
However , to the best of our knowledge , a comprehensive systematic comparison of these tests has not been performed .
We systematic ally review ed studies reporting the repeatability and /or reproducibility of these tests , and studies comparing their sensitivity to therapeutic intervention .
Comparison between an indoor and an outdoor 6-minute walk test among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVES To investigate the feasibility of an outdoor 6-minute walk test ( 6MWT ) as a measure of functional status among individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) , and to examine the relationship between performance on an indoor and an outdoor 6MWT . DESIGN An experimental , repeated- measures crossover design . Subjects were studied on 2 separate days in the same week . Two 6MWTs-one indoors and the other outdoors-were performed on each study day , with a rest in between . The test order was r and omly selected on the first day and reversed on the second day . Outdoor tests were performed on days of moderate weather conditions ( mean temperature + /- st and ard deviation , 21 degrees + /-3 degrees C ; mean wind speed , 15+/-7 km/h ; no precipitation ) and on a flat surface ( sidewalk ) . SETTING  Outpatient rehabilitation program in Ontario . PARTICIPANTS Eighteen subjects with COPD ( 10 men , 8 women ; age , 70+/-8y ) , 5 using supplemental oxygen at rest ( forced expiratory volume in 1s , 1.0+/-0.3L ; 42%+/-8 % of predicted ) . INTERVENTIONS Not applicable . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Distance walked in 6 minutes ( in meters ) , duration of rest ( in seconds ) , and change in rate of perceived dyspnea . RESULTS There was no significant effect of setting ( indoors vs outdoors ) on distance walked ( 394+/-86 m vs 398+/-84 m , P=0.4 ) , duration of rest ( 13+/-28s vs 9+/-20s , P=0.4 ) , or change in rate of perceived dyspnea ( 2.3+/-1.7 vs 2.3+/-2.0 , P=0.8 ) . Testing day had no significant effect on walk test performance ( all P>0.1 ) . CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the 6MWT performed outdoors within reasonable climatic parameters may be reflective of 6MWT performance indoors
Good repeatability ( for the 6MWT and ESWT ) and reproducibility ( for the 6MWT , 12-minute walk test , ISWT , ESWT , and incremental cycle ergometer test ) were reported by most studies assessing these tests , providing patients were familiarized with them beforeh and .
The 6MWT , ISWT , and particularly the ESWT were reported to be sensitive to therapeutic intervention .
Exercise tests are often used to evaluate the functional status of patients with COPD .
However , to the best of our knowledge , a comprehensive systematic comparison of these tests has not been performed .
We systematic ally review ed studies reporting the repeatability and /or reproducibility of these tests , and studies comparing their sensitivity to therapeutic intervention .