Year: 2025 | Month: February | Volume: 15 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 72-77
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250209
Comparison Between 6 Min Walk Test and Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in Middle Age People with Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study
Vishnu K Nair1, Balachandra A Shetty2, Prathik3
1Assistant Professor, Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy, Balmatta, Mangalore,
2Professor and Head of the Department, Department of General Medicine, Aj Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalore,
3Laxmi Memorial College of Physiotherapy, Balmatta, Mangalore
Corresponding Author: Prathik
ABSTRACT
Background: Type 2 diabetes is recognized as a serious public health concern with a considerable impact on human life and health expenditures. The arsenal of equipment used and the need for a team that involves trained professionals led scientists to develop options that could reflect the CPET. 6MWT is a practical and simple test that requires a patient to walk at the highest speed tolerated for 6 min. By contrast, ISWT offers a different protocol from the 6MWT, which is incremental and externally paced. ISWT is also simple, has good reproducibility.
Objective: To compare between Incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in middle aged type 2 diabetes patient.
Method: A pilot study was conducted with research design Cross-sectional study, to assess Cardio Respiratory Fitness using incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) in middle aged type 2 diabetes patient, to assess Cardio Respiratory Fitness using 6-minute walk test (6MWT) in middle aged type 2 diabetes patient and to compare between ISWT and 6MWT in middle aged type 2 diabetes patient. A total 15 study participants, each patient has to undergo both test with 30 min rest in between the test. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patient is admitted to the test.
Result: Out of 15 participants, 60% were under 50 years of age. The 6MWT showed higher VO₂ max but no significant difference compared to the ISWT. Participants walked significantly farther in the 6MWT (338.33 m) than in the ISWT (123.13 m). Fatigue scores significantly increased post-test for both the 6MWT and ISWT, with a greater improvement in the ISWT (2.93) compared to the 6MWT (1.87).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that while the 6MWT and ISWT differ significantly in the distance covered. However, ISWT is better test to evaluate the vo2 max in compression with 6 MWT.
Key Message: This study compares the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) and Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT) in individuals with Type 2 diabetes. While both tests assess cardiorespiratory fitness, the ISWT better reflects VO₂ max and induces greater fatigue, suggesting its potential for more accurate evaluation of exercise capacity in this population.
Key words: Type 2 Diabetes, Incremental shuttle walk test, 6-minute walk test