Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2025
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Assessment of functional ability by anthropometric and physiological parameters during six-minute walk test in
Maria Khalid1, Hafsah Arshad2, Sania Khawar Kiyani1
1Department of Rehabilitation and Allied Health Sciences, Riphah International University, Westridge campus, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Insights
The six-minute walk test reveals that functional ability in children improves with age and is higher in public school students. Anthropometric and physiological factors also influence test performance, highlighting key areas for assessing pediatric functional capacity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Exercise Physiology
- Child Health Assessment
Background:
- The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a valuable tool for assessing functional capacity in various populations.
- Understanding normative data and influencing factors in healthy children is crucial for accurate interpretation of the 6MWT.
- Limited data exists on the 6MWT performance in school-aged children within specific geographical contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the functional ability and vital signs of healthy children aged 7-12 years using the six-minute walk test.
- To identify factors influencing 6MWT performance, including age, gender, school type, and anthropometric measurements.
Main Methods:
- An analytical cross-sectional study involving 376 healthy children aged 7-12 years was conducted in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
- Children performed the standardized six-minute walk test, with data collected on distance walked, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and perceived exertion.
- Semi-structured questionnaires gathered anthropometric data and information on school type (public vs. private).
Main Results:
- Children walked a mean distance of 482.63±119.76 meters.
- Public school students demonstrated significantly better performance than private school students (p=0.001).
- The test showed a weak positive correlation with age and height (p<0.001) but not with weight, gender, or BMI.
Conclusions:
- Functional ability, as measured by the six-minute walk test, increases with age in children.
- Children attending public schools exhibit superior performance compared to their private school counterparts.
- Anthropometric and physiological parameters significantly influence the six-minute walk test outcomes in pediatric populations.
Objective:
To assess the functional ability and vitals of young children using six-minute walk test.
Methods:
The analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 to January 2020 at public and private schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad after approval from the ethics review committee of Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Westridge Campus Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and comprised healthy children aged 7-12 years who were subjected to the six-minute walk test according to standardised guidelines. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements, distance walked in six minutes, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and rate of perceived exertion were the outcome variables. Data was analysed using SPSS 26.
Results:
Of the 376 subjects, 225(59.8%) were boys and 151(40.2%) were girls. The mean age of the sample was 9.25±1.64 years. Mean distance covered by the children was 482.63±119.76 metres. Public school students performed better than those studying in private schools (p=0.001). The difference in gender terms was non-significant (p=0.926). Significant difference was observed in mean heart rate and respiratory rate post-walk (p<0.05). There was a weak positive correlation of the test with age and height (p<0.001), but not with weight, gender and body mass index (p>0.05).
Conclusion:
The level of functional ability of the young students improved with age and was better among those studying at public schools. Besides, anthropometric and physiological parameters influenced the text performance.
