Are the 6-minute walk test and the 2-minute walk test equivalent in acute and subacute stroke survivors in Belgium and Vietnam: a multicultural study.
Duy Thanh Nguyen, Chloé Sauvage, Claire Questienne and 4 others
PMID 40566653WHAT IT FOUND
In 119 acute and subacute stroke survivors who could walk independently, the 2-minute walk test showed similar stroke-related distance reduction, speed, and heart-rate response to the 6-minute test, with high repeat-test consistency.
Key findings
01The 2-minute and 6-minute walk tests were highly consistent when repeated in stroke survivors.
02The 2-minute test showed a similar stroke-related reduction in walking distance compared with matched healthy participants as the 6-minute test.
03The 2-minute and 6-minute tests produced similar walking speed and heart-rate response, and distance and speed were strongly correlated between the tests.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
All stroke participants were mild to moderate and able to walk independently, and only 3 used walking aids, so the findings may not apply to patients who cannot walk independently or have more severe stroke. Participants came from one hospital in each country, which may limit generalisability to other settings. Only 67 of 119 stroke survivors were reassessed, and those not reassessed had a shorter delay from stroke onset, so the reliability results may underrepresent people who recovered walking ability more quickly. Medications that can affect heart rate, such as beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers, were not recorded.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by Project ARES PFS (grant number: 2024 – MAA – 072).
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the 2-minute test is equivalent for all stroke survivors. The study included only people who could walk independently, with mild to moderate stroke and only 3 using walking aids, so it does not show the same result for more severely affected patients.