USE OF WALK TESTS IN PULMONOLOGY

Abstract

Functional assessment is an obligatory part of examination of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Ergospirometry is a "gold standard" of functional examination of the cardiorespiratory system. Walk tests are alternative to ergospirometry and can be performed outside laboratories of functional diagnosis. A 6-min walk test provides information on functional condition, treatment efficacy and prognosis in many diseases of the heart and lungs. The result of this test under 350 m suggests a high risk of death. However, this test has a serious defect an insignificant result in weak motivation of the patient. The defects of a 6-min walk test can be corrected by the shuttle-test with growing or permanent load. The test with growing load measures physical performance, while that with permanent load estimates the ability to endure long-term loading.

Keywords

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• 6-min walk test
• shuttle test