Influence of stroke-related impairments on performance in 6-minute walk test

The 6-minute walk test is a clinical measure of endurance, but it is not known if it is useful for individuals with mobility impairments secondary to stroke. Purposes of this study were to assess which stroke-related physical impairments influence performance in the 6-minute walk test and to evaluate if this test provides a measure of functional walking endurance after stroke. Seventy-two adults poststroke completed the 6-minute walk as part of baseline testing for a randomized intervention clinical trial. Pulse and blood pressure were taken before and after the walk. Subjects walked an average of 216 m in 6 minutes. The Fugl-Meyer lower-limb motor score and the Berg Balance score explained 45 percent of the variance in distance walked. Pulse and systolic blood pressure increased significantly with the 6-minute walk. Neuromuscular impairments poststroke contribute to diminished performance in the 6-minute walk test. Pulse and blood pressure pre- and posttesting can indicate cardiovascular stress.