The 6-minute walk test: How important is the learning effect?

The 6-minute walk test is a submaximal exercise test that is widely used as an outcomes measure in clinical trials and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. An initial learning effect with repeated administration is well documented, but it is unknown whether this learning effect persists with time. This study was designed to determine whether the learning effect persists after 2 months. Fifty healthy adults (mean age, 30.6 years; 48% men, 82% white) unfamiliar with the 6-minute walk test completed 3 walks at baseline (walks 1–3) and 3 walks at follow-up (walks 4–6). Height, weight, and self-reported physical activity were assessed at both points. Distances walked during the 6 walks were compared with a general linear model for repeated measures with post-hoc pairwise comparisons corrected by the Bonferroni method. A P value