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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Limitations of 6-minute walk test reference values for spinal muscular atrophy
Ashley M Goodwin1,2, Kayla M D Cornett3, Marnee J McKay4
1Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Program in Physical Therapy, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
Introduction:
The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a well-established clinical assessment of functional endurance, validated as a measure of walking ability in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The current availability of disease-modifying therapies for SMA indicates a growing need for normative reference data to compare SMA patients with healthy controls.
Methods:
The literature was searched in two scientific databases. Studies were evaluated and selected based on adherence to American Thoracic Society guidelines for administering the 6MWT. Reference equations from the selected studies were applied to 6MWT data collected from SMA patients to calculate and compare % predicted values.
Results:
Three pediatric and six adult studies were selected for comparison. The % predicted values using the pediatric and adult equations ranged from 47.7 ± 18.2% to 67.6 ± 26.2% and 43.0 ± 17.9% to 59.5 ± 26.2%, respectively, and were significantly different (P < 0.001).
Discussion:
Results suggest significant variability between % predicted values derived from published reference equations in children and adults, despite adherence to 6MWT standardization.
