The role of physical activity in modulating six-minute walk distance in adolescents

Attilio Carraro, Roberto Roklicer, Giampaolo Santi, Alessandra Colangelo, Marco Petrini, Marta Duina, Markus Gerber and Antonino Mulè

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: Purpose: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is one of the most widely utilized submaximal tests to assess cardiorespiratory fitness in both healthy and clinical populations. The present study aims to provide 6MWT reference values for Italian adolescents (11–18 years) and to identify key variables influencing the six-minute walk distance (6MWD). Methods: Data were collected from 3276 Italian adolescents (48% males). Participants provided self-reported age, height, weight, and weekly practice of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). 6MWT was performed to assess participants’ cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: Average distances of 730.0 (IQR: 674.0–788.0) and 675.0 (IQR: 624.0–720.0) meters were walked in the 6MWT by male and female adolescents, respectively. Multiple linear regression models, used to investigate whether demographics, anthropometrics, and MVPA predicted the 6MWD, revealed statistically significant results in both males (p

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0344115

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0344115

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