The Validity of the Six Minute Walk Test in Determining VO2peak in Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study

Authors

Deandra Elcock, University of Northern ColoradoFollow

Faculty Sponsor

Dan Shackelford

Abstract

Peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak) is critical for developing and implementing an exercise prescription to guide a cancer survivor’s rehabilitative exercise program, which will improve physiological and psychological values in cancer survivors. Many clinicians choose a submaximal protocol, the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) to determine VO_2peak. The University of Northern Colorado Cancer Rehabilitation Institute’s (UNCCRI) treadmill protocol is cancer-specific and accurately determines VO_2peak. PURPOSE: To determine the validity of VO_2peak obtained from the 6MWT compared to the VO_2peak obtained by the UNCCRI treadmill protocol. METHODS: 34 cancer survivors completed the UNCCRI treadmill protocol and the 6MWT in randomized order one week apart. VO_2peak derived from the four commonly used equations for the 6MWT were compared to VO_2peak obtained from the UNCCRI treadmill protocol. RESULTS: All four 6MWT’s equation mean differences significantly underestimated VO_2peak compared to the UNCCRI treadmill protocol (p <0.001). Cancer survivors also exercised at a higher intensity executing the UNCCRI treadmill protocol. CONCLUSION: The 6MWT significantly underestimates VO_2peak, inhibits cancer survivors from training at a higher intensity level, and should not be used in formulating an exercise prescription. Clinicians should utilize the UNCCRI treadmill protocol.

Recommended Citation

Elcock, Deandra (2019) "The Validity of the Six Minute Walk Test in Determining VO2peak in Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study," Ursidae: The Undergraduate Research Journal at the University of Northern Colorado: Vol. 6: No. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://digscholarship.unco.edu/urj/vol6/iss2/5

UNCO Undergraduate Verification

1