Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and maximum phonation time (MPT) in healthy adults. Patients and methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 sedentary nonsingers (32 females, 18 males; mean age: 33.5±8.3 years; range, 18 to 50 years) between February 2021 and April 2021. Subjects with a history of smoking, respiratory symptoms in the last two weeks, and heart, lung, musculoskeletal, and balance problems were excluded. The measurements of MPT and 6MWD were carried out by two different assessors blinded to each other. Results: The mean MPT was higher in male subjects (27.4±7.4 sec vs. 20.6±5.1 sec, p<0.001). In the bivariate analysis, there was a significant correlation between MPT and 6MWD (r=0.621, p<0.001), as well as body height (r=0.421, p=0.002) and the mean fundamental frequency (r=-0.429, p=0.002); however, no association was found with age, body weight, and the mean sound pressure level. After multiple regression, 6MWD was the only factor associated with MPT (p=0.002). Conclusion: There is a significant association between 6MWD and MPT in healthy adults, and the results suggest that aerobic capacity might have a role in improving the ability to sustain phonation.

In facilities where a track required is not available for gait speed test, a simpler method using a shorter track and test duration is needed. One of such methods is the 4-meter gait speed. This study aimed to determine the cut off values for 4MGS and its correlation with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a more common functional performance test with shorter track and time. Data for this study were collected at the Department of Rehabilitation of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital during the period of August 2016 to March 2017. The consecutive sampling approach was used to recruit healthy Indonesian adults (n=61) aged 18–50 years into this cross sectional study. The anthropometric and respiratory variables were measured as descriptive data and the cut-off values were determined by calculating the mean 4-meter gait speed (4MGS)-2SD for each gender. The 6MWT was performed afterwards to assess the correlation between 4MGS and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Results presented a mean 4MGS value of 2.114±0.309 m/s (male) and 1.908±0.227m/s (female) with the cut-off values for normal gait speed of 1.496 m/s and 1.454m/s for male and female, respectively. Factors affecting 4MGS were body height, body weight, forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). The 4MGS is only shown to be weakly correlated with 6MWD (r=0.314, p=0.014). The cut-off values for 4MGS can be used as a reference to assess the normality of gait speed as a parameter of functional mobility in healthy Indonesian adults and should be used in adjunct to 6MWT to represent a comprehensive functional capacity status.

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