Walking test outcomes in adults with genetic neuromuscular diseases: a systematic literature review of their measurement properties.
Nawale Hadouiri, Isabelle Fournel, Christel Thauvin-Robinet and 3 others
PMID 38300152WHAT IT FOUND
The 6-minute walk test is the most studied measure for adults with genetic neuromuscular diseases.
It reliably tracks distance but lacks data on detecting change over time. The 10-meter walk is a strong alternative for assessing speed and functional change.
Key findings
01The 6-minute walk test was used in 25 of the 46 included studies, making it the most frequently assessed walking measure.
02While the 6-minute walk test showed good reliability for measuring distance, its ability to detect change over time was rated as inadequate methodological quality in several conditions including myotonic dystrophy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
03In myotonic dystrophy type 1, the 10-meter walk test had the most verified measurement properties and showed high responsiveness for detecting change, unlike the 6-minute walk test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
A meta-analysis was not possible due to high heterogeneity in study designs, physical examination protocols, and walking tests used. Most included studies had small sample sizes, often without justification, which limits the certainty of the results. The review excluded non-hereditary neuromuscular diseases and pediatric populations, so the findings do not apply to children or conditions like inclusion body myositis. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability were rarely studied, leaving uncertainty about how consistently different therapists might score these tests.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the 6-minute walk test is the best tool for monitoring treatment progress in all neuromuscular diseases. While it reliably measures how far a patient can walk, the review found inadequate evidence for its ability to detect meaningful change over time in conditions like myotonic dystrophy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.