Standard Normative Values of Six Minute Walk Test in Healthy Children Aged 7–16 Years a Cross Sectional Study

Various studies had been done on six minute walk test to assess the functional capacity, but very few studies on six minute walk test were performed in children. The purpose of this study is to find out the normative values for six minute walk test in healthy children aged 7–16 years and correlate age, height, weight and body mass index with six minute walk distance

460 children were selected of the age group of 7–16 years. Weight and height was measured by calibrated weighing scale and stadiometer by standard anthropometric methods before the test and six minute walk test was then performed. After completion of the test, total distance was measured. Descriptive analysis has been used to find out the normative values of six minute walk distance of the age group of 7–16 years in boys and girls respectively. Karl Pearson's correlation has been used to find out the correlation between age, height, weight, body mass index with six minute walk distance.

In this study, normative values for six minute walk test in healthy children aged 7–16 years was established with mean distance in boys 469.09 ± 56.66 and girls 458.50 ± 55.44 respectively.

The results of this study show that normative values for six minute walk test in healthy subjects aged 7–16 years was established. Age and height have a positive correlation with six minute walk distance while weight and BMI have a negative correlation with six minute walk distance.