ICF-oriented evaluation of performance during cardiological rehabilitation
The orientation of evaluation concepts on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (
ICF) is now an important prerequisite for medical rehabilitation. Walking has an important role to play in the functional health of cardiological patients. In that context the 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) has established itself as a safe and economical test-process within the sports and movement therapy. It is therefore the objective of this study to evaluate the 6MWT with regard to its suitability to
ICF-Code d450 on walking for cardiological patients.
The study comprises of 113 test persons (90 males and 23 females) who underwent an initial stationary cardiological rehabilitation including a 6MWT comprising of a questionnaire on life quality (SF 36), which generated the necessary variables on walking ability. The study was further carried out with the aid of symptom-limited cycle ergometer tests.
According to the findings, the walking distance (483.9 ± 81.0 m) lies significantly below the reference value (657.9 ± 69.0 m; p < 0.01) as in Trooster‘s formula. The results further reveal a reduction in the walking ability of 95 % of the subjects by more than 5 %. The mean of deviation of the reference value (MD = -25.9 ± 11.7 %) is not significantly different from the value derived from the evaluation of the ability to walk in the symptom-limited cycle ergometer test (MD = -27.9 ± 17.7 %; n. s.).
It can thus be concluded that 6MWT facilitates the evaluation of long distance walking ability (
ICF-Code d4501) and offers sports therapists the possibility of assessing functional health with the
ICF-oriented evaluation of performance during cardiological rehabilitation.