Comparison of the 2- and 6-minute walk test in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is often used to assess walking distance in multiple sclerosis (MS), but can be both time consuming for the investigator and exhausting for people with MS (pwMS). The present report compared the 6MWT scores of 40 ambulatory pwMS with their scores on the shorter 2-minute walk test (2MWT). The 2MWT estimated the 6MWT results with a mean relative error of 5% (R(2) = 0.96; p < 0.01). As the last 4-minute period of the 6MWT seems redundant, the 2MWT may be considered as a practical replacement for the 6MWT in routine clinical assessment.

Fatigue induced changes to kinematic and kinetic gait parameters following six minutes of walking in people with multiple sclerosis

“…This finding is supported by other studies that have found reduced speed in the last one to five minutes of the 6MWT in people with MS [35,36]. Gait slowing appears to coincide with steady state aerobic metabolism, as Motl et al demonstrated with physiological measurements during the final three minutes of the 6MWT [37].…”

“…A 'deceleration index' may be a useful measure of walking behaviour in MS [7], as a recent study showed 'decline' in walking speed , rather than 'mean' walking speed over the 6MWT to have a stronger association with self-reported fatigue [34]. While there has been some support for a shortened two-minute walk test to assess walking ability in people with MS [36], our findings suggests six minutes may be required to gain important clinical information on walkinginduced fatigue.…”

Assessing walking disability in multiple sclerosis

“…The reliability of the 2-minute Walk Test (2mWT) has not been reported, although it is assumed to be high based on its strong correlation with the first 2 min of the 6-minute Walk Test (6mWT). 19 …”

Functional walking capacity of subjects with paralyzed knee extensors while walking with an SCO in locked vs unlocked mode

“…In subjects with lower limb amputations, the distance walked is well correlated with daily activity and indicative for substantial functional limitations in daily life [33,34].Timed walk tests have not yet been validated specifically for users of KAFOs, but for patients with neurologic conditions that may require fitting of a KAFO such as incomplete SCI, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis [35][36][37][38][39][40].…”