Self-Administered Six-Minute Walk Test Using a Free Smartphone App in Asymptomatic Adults: Reliability and Reproducibility

Matheus Oliveira de Jesus, Thatiane Lopes Valentim Di Paschoale Ostolin, Neli Leite Proença, Rodrigo Pereira da Silva and Victor Zuniga Dourado
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Matheus Oliveira de Jesus: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos 11015-020, SP, Brazil
Thatiane Lopes Valentim Di Paschoale Ostolin: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos 11015-020, SP, Brazil
Neli Leite Proença: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos 11015-020, SP, Brazil
Rodrigo Pereira da Silva: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos 11015-020, SP, Brazil
Victor Zuniga Dourado: Department of Human Movement Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Santos 11015-020, SP, Brazil

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: Background: The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is a simple, inexpensive, reliable, and reproducible test that provides a reasonable estimate of the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). We aimed to assess the reliability and reproducibility of a self-administered 6MWT in asymptomatic adults using a free smartphone app. Methods: In the 1st phase, 93 participants underwent a supervised 6MWT (6MWTsup) in a 30 m indoor corridor, using a triaxial accelerometer and their smartphones to compare the total step counts and to develop a 6-min walk distance (6MWD) prediction equation. In the 2nd phase, 25 participants performed the 6MWTsup and two self-administered 6MWTs outdoors (6MWTsa1 and 6MWTsa2, at least 48 h apart) using a free smartphone app. Results: The agreement between accelerometer- and app-based total step counts was limited (mean difference, −58.7 steps (−8.7%): 95% confidence interval, −326.5 (−46.8%) to 209.1 (29.3%)). The best algorithm for predicting the 6MWTsup m included: 795.456 + (0.815 height m app-steps) − (1.620 age years ) − (3.005 weight kg ) − (1.155 app-steps), R 2 = 0.609). The intraclass correlation coefficient between 6MWTsa2 and 6MWTsa1 was excellent (0.91: 0.81–0.96). The coefficient of variation was 6.4%. The agreement between the two self-administered tests was narrow (−1.9 (0.2%) meters: −57.4 (−9.5%) to 61.3 (9.9%)). Conclusions: The self-administered 6MWT has excellent reliability and reproducibility in asymptomatic adults, being a valuable tool for assessing CRF in community-based interventions.

Keywords: cardiorespiratory fitness; accelerometer; 6-minute walk test; physical activity level; health and public health; app; applications (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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