Introduction: Neurophysiotherapy clinical guidelines recommend the 6-minute walk test
for assessing walking distance. The primary outcome is the distance walked in 6 minutes,
but it is also reasonable to monitor blood oxygen saturation, heart rate and the subjective
dyspnea using the Borg scale. Purpose: The purpose of the master's thesis was to determine
the reliability of the 6-minute walk test and the measurement of heart rate and evaluation of
percieved exertion with the Borg scale. We also calculated the minimal clinically important
difference and the minimal detectable change in distance walked in the 6-minute walk test.
We also determined the correlation of the distance walked in this test with lung function
tests. Methods: 30 stroke subjects aged 22 to 78 years, 3 to 26.7 weeks after stroke
participated in the study. At the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation, we assessed a
6-minute walking test, exercise test with a cycle ergometer and spirometry. During the 6-
minute walk test, heart rate was recorded with a heart rate monitor (Polar RS800CX), and
perceived exertion was assessed with a 15-point Borg scale. During the exercise test, the
heart rate was monitored via ECG, and the subjects also assessed the perceived effort in the
end of the cycle ergometry. Results: Inter-rater reliability of the 6-minute walk test was
excellent (ICC = 0.97). The minimum clinically important difference of the 6-minute walk
test was 60.2 m and the minimum detectable change was 60.9 m at admission and 54.3 m at
discharge. The reliability of the heart rate measurement during the 6-minute walk test was
moderate (ICC = 0.59), as was the reliability of the Borg scale assessment (ICC = 0.44). The
correlation between distance walked in the 6-minute walk test and V ̇O2max in exercise test
was moderate (r = 0.44). There was no correlation between the distance walked in the 6-
minute walk test and the Borg scale, and the correlation with forced expiratory volume in
the first second was moderate at admission (r = 0.46) and absent at discharge. Conclusion:
The findings of our study are consistent with previous studies, which also found high interrater reliability of the 6-minute walk test. Further research should be directed at elucidating
the reasons for the moderate reliability of heart rate and the Borg scale and clarifying the
validity of the 6-minute walk test.
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