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. 2020 Dec;17(4):183-188.
doi: 10.5114/kitp.2020.102340. Epub 2021 Jan 15.

Use of the six-minute walk test in exercise prescription in male patients after coronary artery bypass surgery

Dorota Dolecińska  1 , Izabela Przywarska  2 , Tomasz Podgórski  3 , Piotr Dylewicz  4 , Jacek Lewandowski  1
Affiliations

Use of the six-minute walk test in exercise prescription in male patients after coronary artery bypass surgery

Dorota Dolecińska et al. Kardiochir Torakochirurgia Pol. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Introduction: It is unclear whether it is possible to determine the training load on the basis of the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) in patients after cardiac surgery with low tolerance of physical exercise.

Aim: Use of the 6-MWT to determine an individual initial training load in walking training on a treadmill in the early phase of cardiac rehabilitation in men after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Material and methods: Twenty-two men aged 54 to 74 years, up to 3 months after CABG surgery participated in walking training on a treadmill (12-15 sessions). Patients underwent the initial and final treadmill exercise stress test (TEST) and the 6-MWT. Based on 6-MWT results, the initial training load was prescribed. Before the 6-MWT and 3 minutes after its completion, lactate concentration was determined.

Results: The 6-MWT distance increased from 420 ±80 m to 519 ±61 m (p < 0.001), and the energy expenditure from 4.4 ±1.4 MET to 6.3 ±1.3 MET (p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between 6-MWT distance and energy expenditure in the TEST before rehabilitation (r = 0.60, p = 0.005), and after rehabilitation (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between the baseline 6-MWT distance and distance increment in the final 6-MWT (r = -0.66, p = 0.002). The 6-MWT did not induce hyperlactatemia.

Conclusions: The 6-MWT can be used in exercise intensity prescription, especially for determining the individual initial training load, load progression, as well as its correction during follow-up tests.

Keywords: 6-minute walk test; cardiac rehabilitation; coronary artery bypass; lactate; walking training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Speed of walking during treadmill walking training sessions
Figure 2
Figure 2
Relationship between 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) distance and energy expenditure in TEST before rehabilitation (r – Pearson correlation coefficient)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Relationship between 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) distance and energy expenditure in TEST after rehabilitation (r – Pearson correlation coefficient)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relationship between 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) distance before rehabilitation and 6-MWT distance increment after rehabilitation (r – Pearson correlation coefficient)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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