- Flat, straight corridor 30 m (100 feet) in length
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- Turnaround points marked with a cone
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- Patient should wear comfortable clothes and shoes
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- Patient rests in chair for at least 10 minutes prior to test (ie, no warm-up period)
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- Heart rate and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) should be monitored throughout the test
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- If the patient is using supplemental oxygen, record the flow rate and type of device
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- Have patient stand and rate baseline dyspnea and overall fatigue using Borg scale*[1]
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- Set lap counter to zero and timer to six minutes
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- Instruct the patient: Remember that the object is to walk AS FAR AS POSSIBLE for 6 minutes, but don't run or jog. Pivot briskly around the cone.
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- Standardized encouragement statements should be provided at one minute intervals, such as "You are doing well. You have _ minutes to go" and "Keep up the good work. You have _ minutes to go."
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- At the end of the test, mark the spot where the patient stopped on the floor
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- If using a pulse oximeter, measure the pulse rate and SpO2 and record
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- After the test record the Borg*[1] dyspnea and fatigue levels
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- Ask, "What, if anything, kept you from walking farther?"
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- Calculate the distance walked and record
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