Introduction: The 6-minute walk test is a submaximal exercise test used to quantify the functional exercise capacity in clinical populations. It measures the distance walked within a period of 6-minutes. Obtaining reference values in the pediatric population is especially demanding due to factors as the development stage and age. RV provide a comparative basis for answering questions concerning the normality of health status, exercise responses and functional exercise capacity in patients. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to provide an overview of reference values and reference value prediction equations for the 6-minute walk test in the children and in adolescent pediatric population and of the methodology used to obtain them. A total of 22 studies from MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cinahl were included containing healthy participants aged ≤18 years. Reported reference values ranged from 383 m ± 41 m to 799 m ± 54 m. The prediction equation 6MWD = (4.63*height(cm))–(3.53*weight(kg))+(10.42*age)+56.32 yields the highest R2 value (0.6). Expert commentary: It is impossible to present a single best reference value. A flow-chart is presented to aid the selection of reference values or reference value prediction equations. Consensus regarding testing procedures should lead to an update and stricter application of the current guidelines.
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The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a self-paced, submaximal exercise test used to assess functional exercise capacity in patients with chronic diseases (Chang 2006, Solway et al 2001). It has been used widely in adults, and is being utilised increasingly in paediatric populations; it has been used as an estimate of physical fitness in, for example, children with severe cardiopulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (Hassan et al 2010).
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Voor het meten van de mobiliteit bij geriatrische patiënten en bij patiënten met evenwichtsstoornissen is in 1986 door Mathias de Timed Up and Go test (TUG) ontwikkeld. Deze oorspronkelijk Engelstalige versie van de test werd in 2000 in het Nederlands vertaald door De Jong. Het meetinstrument is zowel evaluatief als inventariserend en wordt aanbevolen in de KNGF-richtlijnen ‘Osteoporose’, ‘Beroerte’ en ‘Ziekte van Parkinson’.
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Background There currently is no field test available for measuring maximal exercise capacity in people with stroke. Objective To determine the feasibility, reproducibility and validity of the Shuttle Test (ST) to measure exercise capacity in people with stroke. Design Longitudinal study design. Setting Rehabilitation department, day care centres from a nursing home and private practices specialized in neuro rehabilitation. Subjects People with subacute or chronic stroke. Interventions A standardized protocol was used to determine feasibility, reproducibility and validity of the 10-meter Shuttle Test (10mST). Main measures Number of shuttles completed, 1stVentilatory Threshold (1stVT). Results The associations of the number of shuttles completed and cardiopulmonary capacity as measured with a portable gas analyser were r > 0.7, confirming good convergent validity in subacute and chronic people with stroke. Criterion validity, however, indicates it is not a valid test for measuring maximal cardiopulmonary capacity (VO2max). Only 60% of participants were able to reach the 1stVT. Higher cardiopulmonary capacity and a higher total score of the lower extremity Motricity Index contributed significantly to a higher number of shuttles walked (p = 0.001). Conclusions The Shuttle Test may be a safe and useful exercise test for people after stroke, but may not be appropriate for use with people who walk slower than 2 km/h or 0.56 m/s.
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Background The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is increasingly being used as a functional outcome measure for chronic pediatric conditions. Knowledge about its measurement properties is needed to determine whether it is an appropriate test to use. Purpose The purpose of this study was to systematically review all published clinimetric studies on the 6MWT in chronic pediatric conditions. Data Sources The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, and SPORTDiscus were searched up to February 2012. Study Selection Studies designed to evaluate measurement properties of the 6MWT in a chronic pediatric condition were included in the systematic review. Data Extraction The methodological quality of the included studies and the measurement properties of the 6MWT were examined. Data Synthesis A best evidence synthesis was performed on 15 studies, including 9 different chronic pediatric conditions. Limited evidence to strong evidence was found for reliability in various chronic conditions. Strong evidence was found for positive criterion validity of the 6MWT with peak oxygen uptake in some populations, but negative criterion validity was found in other populations. Construct validity remained unclear in most patient groups because of methodological flaws. Little evidence was available for responsiveness and measurement error. Studies showed large variability in test procedures despite existing guidelines for the performance of the 6MWT. Limitations Unavailability of a specific checklist to evaluate the methodological quality of clinimetric studies on performance measures was a limitation of the study. Conclusions Evidence for measurement properties of the 6MWT varies largely among chronic pediatric conditions. Further research is needed in all patient groups to explore the ability of the 6MWT to measure significant and clinically important changes. Until then, changes measured with the 6MWT should be interpreted with caution. Future studies or consensus regarding modified test procedures in the pediatric population is recommended.
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Background. Adequate and user-friendly instruments for assessing physical function and disability in older adults are vital for estimating and predicting health care needs in clinical practice. The Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument Computer Adaptive Test (LLFDICAT) is a promising instrument for assessing physical function and disability in gerontology research and clinical practice. Objective. The aims of this study were: (1) to translate the LLFDI-CAT to the Dutch language and (2) to investigate its validity and reliability in a sample of older adults who spoke Dutch and dwelled in the community. Design. For the assessment of validity of the LLFDI-CAT, a cross-sectional design was used. To assess reliability, measurement of the LLFDI-CAT was repeated in the same sample. Methods. The item bank of the LLFDI-CAT was translated with a forward-backward procedure. A sample of 54 older adults completed the LLFDI-CAT, World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, RAND 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey physical functioning scale (10 items), and 10-Meter Walk Test. The LLFDI-CAT was repeated in 2 to 8 days (mean4.5 days). Pearson’s r and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (2,1) were calculated to assess validity, group-level reliability, and participant-level reliability. Results. A correlation of .74 for the LLFDI-CAT function scale and the RAND 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey physical functioning scale (10 items) was found. The correlations of the LLFDI-CAT disability scale with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 and the 10-Meter Walk Test were .57 and .53, respectively. The ICC (2,1) of the LLFDI-CAT function scale was .84, with a group-level reliability score of .85. The ICC (2,1) of the LLFDI-CAT disability scale was .76, with a group-level reliability score of .81. Limitations. The high percentage of women in the study and the exclusion of older adults with recent joint replacement or hospitalization limit the generalizability of the results. Conclusions. The Dutch LLFDI-CAT showed strong validity and high reliability when used to assess physical function and disability in older adults dwelling in the community.
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This study aimed to evaluate outcomes and support use in 12- to 25-year-old visitors of the @ease mental health walk-in centres, a Dutch initiative offering free counselling by trained and supervised peers.
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Aim and method: To examine in obese people the potential effectiveness of a six-week, two times weekly aquajogging program on body composition, fitness, health-related quality of life and exercise beliefs. Fifteen otherwise healthy obese persons participated in a pilot study. Results: Total fat mass and waist circumference decreased 1.4 kg (p = .03) and 3.1 cm (p = .005) respectively. The distance in the Six-Minute Walk Test increased 41 meters (p = .001). Three scales of the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite questionnaire improved: physical function (p = .008), self-esteem (p = .004), and public distress (p = .04). Increased perceived exercise benefits (p = .02) and decreased embarrassment (p = .03) were observed. Conclusions: Aquajogging was associated with reduced body fat and waist circumference, and improved aerobic fitness and quality of life. These findings suggest the usefulness of conducting a randomized controlled trial with long-term outcome assessments.
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Uit het vooronderzoekvan het project Duurzamelearning communities: Oogstenin de Greenportblijkt dat12 factorenhierbijvan belangrijk zijn. Deze succesfactoren staan centraal in de interactieve tool Seeds of Innovation. Ook komen uit het vooronderzoek, aangevuld met inzichten uit de literatuur en tips om de samenwerking door te ontwikkelen en meer gebruik te maken van de opbrengsten 12 succesfactoren met toelichting, belangrijkste bevindingen en tips voor ‘hoe nu verder’, Poster, Walk through, De app die learning communities helptde samenwerkingnaareenhogerplan te tillenen innovatieveopbrengstenoptimaalte benutten.
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Background: Follow-up of stroke survivors is important to objectify activity limitations and/or participations restrictions. Responsive measurement tools are needed with a low burden for professional and patient. Aim: To examine the concurrent validity, floor and ceiling effects and responsiveness of both domains of the Late-Life Function and Disability Index Computerized Adaptive Test (LLFDI-CAT) in first-ever stroke survivors discharged to their home setting. Design: Longitudinal study. Setting: Community. Population: First ever stroke survivors. Methods: Participants were visited within three weeks after discharge and six months later. Stroke Impact Scale (SIS 3.0) and Five-Meter Walk Test (5MWT) outcomes were used to investigate concurrent validity of both domains, activity limitations, and participation restriction, of the LLFDI-CAT. Scores at three weeks and six months were used to examine floor and ceiling effects and change scores were used for responsiveness. Responsiveness was assessed using predefined hypotheses. Hypotheses regarding the correlations with change scores of related measures, unrelated measures, and differences between groups were formulated. Results: The study included 105 participants. Concurrent validity (R) of the LLFDI-CAT activity limitations domain compared with the physical function domain of the SIS 3.0 and with the 5MWT was 0.79 and -0.46 respectively. R of the LLFDI-CAT participation restriction domain compared with the participation domain of the SIS 3.0 and with the 5MWT was 0.79 and -0.41 respectively. A ceiling effect (15%) for the participation restriction domain was found at six months. Both domains, activity limitations and participation restrictions, of the LLFDI-CAT, scored well on responsiveness: 100% (12/12) and 91% (12/11) respectively of the predefined hypotheses were confirmed. Conclusions: The LLFDI-CAT seems to be a valid instrument and both domains are able to detect change over time. Therefore, the LLFDI-CAT is a promising tool to use both in practice and in research. Clinical rehabilitation impact: The LLFDI-CAT can be used in research and clinical practice.
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