Six-minute walk test reference values in ambulatory children with myelomeningocele.

The study was conducted at a single center in the southwest United States, so results may not apply to other populations. Data was cross-sectional, so it cannot show how walking distance changes over time in individual children. Almost half of the participants identified as Hispanic, which may limit generalizability to other ethnic groups, although no differences in walking distance were found based on ethnicity.

The authors stated they had no conflicts of interest. The study did not require external funding.

Do not assume that a child's walking distance is poor because it is far below neurotypical norms. The study shows that reference values must be specific to the child's functional lesion level, as even high-functioning children with sacral lesions walk significantly less than typical peers.