6MWT Performance and its Correlations with VO 2 and Handgrip Strength in Home-Dwelling Mid-Aged and Older Chinese

Qing Zhang, Hailin Lu, Shiqin Pan, Yuan Lin, Kun Zhou and Li Wang
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Qing Zhang: School of Nursing, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Hailin Lu: School of Nursing, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Shiqin Pan: School of Nursing, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Yuan Lin: School of Nursing, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Kun Zhou: School of Nursing, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
Li Wang: School of Nursing, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-10

Abstract: Six-minute walk test (6MWT) performance is more commonly used in clinic patients with chronic cardiopulmonary diseases but not in home-dwelling individuals of similar age, and its correlations with oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) and muscle strength require further investigation. The current study determined the 6MWT performance of 106 home-dwelling residents (mean age of 62 years) in Suzhou, China. VO 2 at a respiratory exchange ratio (R) of 1 was measured through graded cycling exercise tests on 46 participants. Handgrip strength of all participants was tested. 6MWT distance measured 543.4 ± 67.2 m (total work 351.0 ± 62.8 kJ) with similar distances ambulated each minute. Heart rate, blood pressure, and rate of perceived exertion scores significantly increased after 6MWT. VO 2 at R = 1 reached 1238 ± 342 mL/min (18.6 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min), whereas handgrip strength totaled 29.8 ± 9.6 kg. 6MWT distance showed strong correlations with VO 2 ( r = 0.549, p ? 0.001) and handgrip strength ( r = 0.359, p < 0.001). Aside from providing reference values for 6MWT performance (~543 m, ~559 m in males and ~533 in females) for home-dwelling Chinese residents, our results suggest that as a parameter of exercise endurance, 6MWT performance correlates with both aerobic capacity and muscle fitness.

Keywords: walking distance; muscle strength; graded exercise test; VO 2; respiratory exchange ratio (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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