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Six-Minute Walking Test Instructions
To the participants
The object of this test is to walk as far as possible for 6 minutes.
You will walk back and forth in this hallway around the marker cones
(20 meters).
Pleas inform the examiner immediately when you start feeling the
claudication pain on your legs.
Six minutes is a long time to walk, you will probably get claudication
pain or out of breath or become exhausted.
Walk at your own pace. This test is to asses your progress. It’s not a
competition or comparison with others performance, so please walk at
your own pace and take rest if you required.
You are permitted to slow down, to stop, and to rest as necessary.
You may rest in the chair provided near the track, but resume walking
as soon as you are able.
You will be walking back and forth around the cones.
You should pivot briskly around the cones and continue back the other
way without hesitation.
I am going to use this chart to keep track of the number of laps you
complete. I will tick it each time you turn around at this starting line.
I will inform you after completion of every minute and 15 seconds
before end of the test. At the end of 6 minutes I will tell you to stop.
When I do, just stop right where you are and I will come to you.
The object is to walk AS FAR AS POSSIBLE for 6 minutes, but don't
run or jog.
Demonstration: (Walking one lap by the examiner.)
Now I'm going to demonstrate the test to you. Please watch the way I walk
and pivot around the cones briskly without hesitation.
The above guidance is based on: ATS Statement: Guidelines for the Six-Minute Walk Test. ATS Committee on
Proficiency Standards for Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratories.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 166. pp. 111-117, (2002)
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Prepared by: Pradeep Chockalingam, Snr 2 Physio
1/3/2006
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Six-Minute Walking Test Instructions
To the examiner
Stand near the starting line during the test.
Do not walk with the patient. Do not talk to anyone during the walk.
As soon as the patient starts to walk, start the timer.
Watch the patient. Do not get distracted and lose count of the laps.
Each time the participant completes a lap mark on the worksheet. Let
the participant see you do it. Exaggerate the click using body language.
If the patient stops walking during the test and needs a rest, say this:
"You can sit if you would like; then continue walking whenever you feel
able." Do not stop the timer.
Please mark the time when participant complains of claudication pain
symptom as well as the rest and restart time.
Inform the participant after completion of every minute and 15 seconds
before end of the test. At the end of 6 minutes say this: "Stop!" and
walk over to the patient and mark the spot where they stopped by
placing a bean bag or a piece of tape on the floor.
Please use the standard phrases given below under the heading
“Encouragement” when informing the participant after completion of
every minute,15 seconds before end of the test and at the end of 6
minutes.
Record the additional distance covered (the number of meters in the
final partial lap).
If the patient stops before the 6 minutes are up and refuses to continue
(or if you decide that they should not continue), wheel the chair over for
the patient to sit on, discontinue the walk, and note on the worksheet
the distance, the time stopped, and the reason for stopping
prematurely.
Reasons to immediately stop a 6MWT include the following: chest
pain, intolerable dyspnea, leg cramps, exes of sweating, and pale
appearance.
2
Prepared by: Pradeep Chockalingam, Snr 2 Physio
1/3/2006
www.scribd.com/cpradheep
Six-Minute Walking Test Instructions
Encouragement
Use an even tone of voice when using the standard phrases of
encouragement. Do not use other words of encouragement (or body language
to speed up).
After the first minute, tell the patient the following (in even tones): "You
are doing well. You have 5 minutes to go."
When the timer shows 4 minutes remaining, tell the patient the
following: "Keep up the good work. You have 4 minutes to go."
When the timer shows 3 minutes remaining, tell the patient the
following: "You are doing well. You are halfway done."
When the timer shows 2 minutes remaining, tell the patient the
following: "Keep up the good work. You have only 2 minutes left."
When the timer shows only 1 minute remaining, tell the patient the
following: "You are doing well. You have only 1 minute to go."
When the timer is 15 seconds from completion, say this: "In a moment
I'm going to tell you to stop. When I do, just stop right where you are
and I will come to you."
When the timer rings (or buzzes), say this: "Stop!" Walk over to the
patient. Consider taking the chair if they look exhausted.
If the patient stops walking during the test and needs a rest, say this:
"You can sit if you would like; then continue walking whenever you feel
able." (Do not stop the timer).
The above guidance is based on:
ATS Statement: Guidelines for the Six-Minute Walk Test. ATS Committee on Proficiency Standards for Clinical
Pulmonary Function Laboratories.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 166. pp. 111-117, (2002)
Please ask the participants to complete the Walking Impairment
Questionnaire and answer all the questions by ticking the appropriate box in
0-3 scale. (3-is easiest / not a problem and 0-is hardest / much a problem)
3
Prepared by: Pradeep Chockalingam, Snr 2 Physio
1/3/2006
www.scribd.com/cpradheep
Six-Minute Walking Test
Name: DoB: Date:
Symptoms: Calves R/L Buttock R/L Thigh R/L
Others
Lap 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Pain/
Rest
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Claudication Distance :
6 Minutes Distance :
Reason for stopping the test:
Any comments:
4
Prepared by: Pradeep Chockalingam, Snr 2 Physio
1/3/2006
www.scribd.com/cpradheep
Name of the examiner Signature
Calculation of WIQ
1, Patient Impairment Distance Score Calculation:
3 2 1 0
Difficulty walking a distance during the Manage With some With much Score x Dist.=
past month / week well difficulty difficulty Unable to Factor
do
Walking indoors (around the house) X20=
Walking 17 yards / 50 feet X50=
Walking 50 yards / 150 feet X150=
Walking 100 yards / 300 feet X300=
Walking 200 yards / 600 feet X 600=
Walking 300 yards / 900 feet X 900=
Walking 500 yards or more / ¼ mile X 1500=
Patient Impairment Distance Score
Patient Impairment Distance Score = / 10,560
2, Patient Impairment Speed Score Calculation:
3 2 1 0
Difficulty walking at a certain speed Manage With some With much Score x Speed=
during the past month / week well difficulty difficulty Unable to Factor
do
Walking 100 yards/300 feet slowly? X1.5=
Walking 100 yards/300 feet at an average X2=
speed?
Walking 100 yards/300 feet quickly? X3=
Running or jogging 100 yards/300 feet? X5=
Patient Impairment Speed Score
Patient Impairment Speed Score = / 34.5
5
Prepared by: Pradeep Chockalingam, Snr 2 Physio
1/3/2006
www.scribd.com/cpradheep
1, Walking Distance:
3 2 1 0
Difficulty walking a distance during the Manage With some With much
past month / week well difficulty difficulty Unable to
do
Walking indoors (around the house)
60 40 20 0
Walking 17 yards / 50 feet
150 100 50 0
Walking 50 yards / 150 feet
450 300 150 0
Walking 100 yards / 300 feet
900 600 300 0
Walking 200 yards / 600 feet
1800 1200 600 0
Walking 300 yards / 900 feet
2700 1800 900 0
Walking 500 yards or more / ¼ mile
4500 3000 1500 0
2, Walking Speed:
3 2 1 0
Difficulty walking at a certain speed Manage With some With much
during the past month / week well difficulty difficulty Unable to
do
Walking 100 yards/300 feet slowly?
4.5 3.0 1.5 0.0
Walking 100 yards/300 feet at an average
speed?
6 4 2 0.0
Walking 100 yards/300 feet quickly?
9 6 3 0.0
Running or jogging 100 yards/300 feet?
15 10 5 0.0
2, Walking Speed Totals & Percentages
Total % Total %
1.5 4.3 3 8.6
3.5 10.1 4.5 13.0
5 14.4 6.5 18.8
7 20.2 8 23.1
8.5 24.6 10 28.9
11.5 33.3 13 37.6
14.5 42.0 15 43.4
16.5 47.8 19.5 56.5
21.5 62.3 24.5 71.0
26.5 76.8 29.5 85.5
34.5 100.0
6
Prepared by: Pradeep Chockalingam, Snr 2 Physio
1/3/2006
