A journal dedicated to allied health professional practice and education
http://ijahsp.nova.edu        Vol. 4 No. 3       ISSN 1540-580X 

A Peer Reviewed Publication of the College of Allied Health & Nursing at Nova Southeastern University

Reference Values and Relationship of the Six Minute Walk Test and Body Mass Index in Healthy Third Grade School Children

James Roush, PhD, PT1     Jennifer Guy, DPT, PT2    Melissa Purvis, DPT, PT3

  1. Associate Professor, Arizona School of Health Sciences

  2. Industrial and Physical Therapy, Higley, Arizona

  3. Tabitha Health Services, Lincoln, Nebraska

Citation:

Roush, J. Reference Values and Relationship of the Six Minute Walk Test and Body Mass Index in Healthy Third Grade School Children. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. July 2006. Volume 4 Number 3.

Abstract
Purpose: This study attempted to establish reference values of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) for children (38 males; 38 females; age 90-108 months) and to determine the relationship between BMI and walking distance. Method: Subjects walked at a normal, self-selected, walking speed on a grassy field for six minutes, after which distance was measured. Results: Mean BMI was 15.50 (sd=2.00) for males and 16.30 (sd=2.90) for females. Mean walking distance was 581.70 m (sd=58.10) for males and 532.20 m (sd=52.60) for females. The partial correlation between BMI and distanced walked with the influence of gender removed was .10 (p > .05). The partial correlation between BMI and distanced walked with the influence of age removed was .02 (p > .05). There was no relationship between distance walked and BMI. Conclusions: Reference values of the six-minute walk test for healthy, third-grade school children were calculated and reported.

Keywords and terms: walk test, pediatric BMI, body mass index, six minute walk test
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