6-Minute Push Test in Youth Who Have Spina Bifida and Who Self-Propel a Wheelchair: Reliability and Physiologic Response.
Karlijn M S Damen, Tim Takken, Janke F de Groot and 4 others
PMID 32671398WHAT IT FOUND
The push test gave consistent distance scores in youth with spina bifida who use manual wheelchairs.
Heart rate was less consistent, and effort varied widely.
Key findings
01The distance covered in the push test showed excellent reliability when repeated within 2 weeks.
02The smallest detectable change for distance was 60.7 m.
03Peak values for most cardiopulmonary parameters were 85% to 89% of maximal exercise values.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Three participants, all younger than 6 years, could not complete the push test. Heart-rate data were missing for 11 of 45 participants because of equipment problems. The retest distance was reported as 25 m lower than the first test, and the authors could not explain this difference. Participants had no practice session before testing. Physiologic effort varied widely: for some children the test was nearly maximal, while for others it was not very demanding. The authors did not assess propulsion technique, wheelchair fit, muscle strength, lesion level, or ambulation level. The study included only youth with spina bifida, not other wheelchair-using groups. The reliability analysis included 26 participants.
Declared interests
The study was funded by SIA-RAAK, which had no role in the design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, reporting, or submission. The named funder was Foundation Innovation Alliance.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the push test is reliable for all wheelchair-using youth. This study was only in youth with spina bifida, and it is unclear whether it works for other disabilities.