Differences in configurations of the six-minute walk test for people with Parkinson disease.

AIM: Compare three straight-path configurations of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in persons with Parkinson disease with and without freezing of gait (FOG).

MATERIALS &

METHODS

Experiment 1 participants performed the 30-m standardized and 7.5-m straight-path configurations of the 6MWT. Experiment 2 participants performed the 30-m standardized and 15-m straight-path configurations of the 6MWT. Tests were performed a week apart at the same time of day.

RESULTS

Participants walked 60 meters less in the 7.5-m than in the 30-m configuration (p < .001), and those with FOG walked 108 meters less than those without FOG (p = .044). Participants walked 12 meters less in the 15-m than in the 30-m configuration (p = .046).

CONCLUSIONS

When limited clinic space prevents setup of the standard 30-m configuration of the 6MWT, shortening the configuration to less than 15 meters may result in substantially smaller outcomes that are not comparable to published norms for persons with Parkinson disease.