• Mohammed Sanjak, Velma Langford, Scott Holsten, Nigel Rozario, Charity G Moore Patterson, Elena Bravver, William L Bockenek, and Benjamin R Brooks.
• Neuroscience Institute - Neurology, Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS-MDA Center, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, NC; Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Service, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC. Electronic address: Mohammed.Sanjak@carolinashealthcare.org.
• Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2017 Nov 1; 98 (11): 2301-2307.

ObjectiveTo determine the validity of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) as an outcome measure to evaluate walking capacity in ambulatory patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).DesignObservational study.SettingMultidisciplinary ALS clinic at an academic medical center.ParticipantsPatients with ALS (N=186) who ambulate without (stage I) or with (stage II) an assistive device.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasureWalking distance obtained from the 6MWT.ResultsParticipants performed the 6MWT, 25-foot walk test (25FWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, lower extremity maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), and forced vital capacity (FVC). Walking capacity was reduced to 66% predicted of healthy subjects (75.2%±22% in stage I; 42.6%±22% in stage II). The 6MWT correlated with all other outcome measures in ambulatory patients with ALS (25FWT: r=-.74, P≤.0001; TUG test: r=-.80, P≤.0001; MVIC: r=.64, P≤.0001; percent predicted FVC: r=.25, P≤.0007; ALSFRS-R: r=.52, P≤.0001; ALSFRS-R gross motor subscore: r=.71, P≤.0001). When ambulatory patients with ALS were stratified by stage of ambulation, the 6MWT was associated with all other outcome measures in stage I (25FWT: r=-.56, P≤.0001; TUG test: r=-.66, P≤.0001; MVIC: r=.51, P≤.0001; percent predicted FVC: r=.40, P≤.02; ALSFRS-R: r=.52, P≤.0001; ALSFRS-R gross motor subscore: r=.61, P≤.0001). In stage II, the 6MWT correlated with the 25FWT (r=-.83, P≤.0001), TUG test (r=-.77, P≤.0001), MVIC (r=.47, P≤.0001), and ALSFRS gross motor subscore (r=.61, P≤.0001), but not with percent predicted FVC (r=.09, P≤.513) or ALSFRS-R (r=.21, P≤.141).ConclusionsThe 6MWT is a valid measure of walking capacity of ambulatory patients with ALS that is associated with measures of lower extremity muscle strength and function in both stages of ambulation. The discordance between the 6MWT with the ALSFRS-R and percent predicted FVC in stage II ambulatory patients with ALS indicates that the 6MWT is an independent measure of ambulatory function in both stages of ambulation. The 6MWT may provide a quantitative, simple, and inexpensive outcome measure of walking capacity for early stage clinical trials in ambulatory patients with ALS.Copyright © 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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