135909 20260217205525.0 doi 10.3389/fphys.2024.1395855 sideral 138890 ART-2024-138890 eng Muñoz-Cofré, Rodrigo Comparison of distance covered, physiological cost, and perceived exertion in four six-minute walk test protocols 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Objective: There is evidence that indicates that the Walked Distance (WD) in the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) would be sensitive to the type of track and encouragement. The aim of study was compared the impact of track type and verbal encouragement provided in the 6MWT on WD, physiological cost, perceived exertion, and gait efficiency in healthy young adults unfamiliar with the test.Method: WD, heart rate, subjective sensation of dyspnea (SSD), and fatigue (SSF) were measured in four 6MWT protocols: i) 30 m linear track and protocolized encouragement (LT + PE), ii) 30 m linear track and constant encouragement (LT + CE), iii) 81 m elliptical track and protocolized encouragement (ET + PE), and iv) 81 m elliptical track and constant encouragement (ET + CE). In addition, the Gait Efficiency Index (GIE) associated with physiological cost, dyspnea and fatigue was calculated and compared between the different protocols.Results: The WD was significantly higher in the ET + CE protocol. The percentage of the heart rate reserve used (%HRRu) at minute 6 was higher in the ET + CE protocol. The SSD and SSD had difference in startup time between the protocols. The GEI was higher in %HRRu, SSD, and SSF for the ET + CE protocol.Conclusion: The ET + CE protocol showed a significant increase in WD during the 6MWT in healthy young adults. Although it obtained the highest physiological cost, it did not present perceptual differences when entering cardiopulmonary assessment windows relevant to a more efficient test for the participant. It is advisable to discuss, based on the findings, the fundamental objective of the 6MWT and national and international recommendations to achieve a result as close as possible to the real maximal effort. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es 3.4 2024 PHYSIOLOGY 20 / 87 = 0.23 2024 Q1 T1 1.023 2024 Physiology (medical) 2024 Q2 Physiology 2024 Q2 7.3 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Sol, Mariano del Lizana, Pablo A. Gómez-Bruton, Alejandro Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0520-1640 Fuentes Andaur, María José Fierro, Erika Soto Gonzalez, Gabriela Osorio Medina-González, Paul Valenzuela-Aedo, Fernando Escobar-Cabello, Máximo 1006 245 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería Área Educación Física y Depor. 15 (2024), 8 pp. Front. physiol. Frontiers in physiology 1664-042X 972706 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/135909/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2156666 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/135909/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:135909 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:30:14 ARTICLE