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The Six Minute Walk Distance prediction equation estimates the expected distance a person can walk in six minutes based on their height, age, and BMI. This provides a benchmark for assessing functional exercise capacity and cardiopulmonary fitness.
The calculator uses the prediction equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation accounts for the relationship between physical characteristics and walking capacity, with height positively contributing to distance while age and BMI negatively affect performance.
Details: The six-minute walk test is a simple, inexpensive measure of functional exercise capacity that correlates with quality of life and predicts morbidity and mortality in various patient populations.
Tips: Enter height in centimeters, age in years, weight in kilograms, and height in meters for BMI calculation. All values must be valid positive numbers.
Q1: What is a normal six-minute walk distance?
A: Normal values vary by age, gender, height, and weight. Generally, healthy adults walk 400-700 meters in six minutes.
Q2: Who should use this prediction equation?
A: This equation is useful for clinicians and researchers to establish expected performance levels and identify individuals with impaired functional capacity.
Q3: What factors can affect actual walk distance?
A: Motivation, practice effect, comorbidities, musculoskeletal limitations, and cardiopulmonary conditions can all influence actual performance.
Q4: How accurate is this prediction equation?
A: While useful for population estimates, individual variations exist. The equation provides a reference value rather than an exact prediction.
Q5: Can this be used for clinical decision making?
A: This should be used as one component of comprehensive clinical assessment rather than as a sole determinant of functional status.