6 Minute Walk Test Calculator

The 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a simple yet powerful tool used to assess a person’s functional exercise capacity. This submaximal exercise test measures the distance an individual can walk on a flat, hard surface over a period of six minutes.

What is a 6 Minute Walk Test?

The 6MWT is a standardized test that:

Measures functional exercise capacity
Reflects ability to perform daily activities
Helps assess cardiopulmonary conditions
Provides prognostic information
Evaluates response to treatment

Why Use This Calculator?

This calculator helps you:

Determine your predicted walking distance based on age, sex, height, and weight
Compare your actual walking distance to predicted values
Calculate the percentage of your expected distance
Assess if your result falls within normal ranges

Understanding Your Results

The calculator provides:

Predicted Distance: The distance a healthy person with your characteristics should walk
Lower Limit: The minimum acceptable distance for your demographic
Percentage of Expected: How your actual distance compares to the prediction

Factors Affecting Results

Factors that may decrease distance:

Shorter height
Female sex
Older age
Higher body weight
Cardiovascular or pulmonary disease

Factors that may increase distance:

Taller height
Male sex
Higher motivation
Higher muscle mass
Previous test experience

Test Administration Guidelines

For accurate results:

Walk on a flat, hard surface
Use a pre-measured course
Walk at your own pace
Rest as needed
Continue walking for the full 6 minutes

Medical Applications

The 6MWT is valuable for:

Assessing functional status
Monitoring disease progression
Evaluating treatment effectiveness
Predicting morbidity and mortality
Pre-operative screening

References

ATS Statement: Guidelines for the Six-Minute Walk Test. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Enright PL, Sherrill DL. Reference equations for the six-minute walk in healthy adults. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998.