Six-minute walk test distance

Method

Total distance covered in six minutes of self-paced walking along a flat measured corridor under the ATS six-minute walk protocol, with standardised encouragement phrases and any rest stops counted within the six minutes.

The method is part of the endpoint identity. Studies measuring the same quantity by a different method are held as separate endpoints.

Notes

The near-miss is CAT:outcome/time-trial-performance and it is a SIGN INVERSION: both are self-paced ambulatory performance tests, but this one fixes the DURATION and reads out distance, which improves by RISING, while a time trial fixes the DISTANCE and reads out elapsed time, which improves by FALLING. Mapping one onto the other flips every effect in the pool. Distinct also from CAT:outcome/time-to-exhaustion, which holds an external workload constant to volitional failure, and from gait speed, a short fixed course with no endurance component.