The 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) distance may be a good indicator of lower limb muscle strength, and lower limb strengthening may improve gait capacity in patients with stroke, say authors of an article published in Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine.

A total of 24 patients (12 men and 12 women) participated in the study. Muscle strength (Medical Research Council [MRC] scale) and spasticity (modified Ashworth scale) were assessed prior to the 6MWT. Heart rate was recorded at rest and during the 6MWT. Participants were divided into 2 groups: (1) those with a high MRC sum score, and (2) those with a low MRC sum score. The relationship between the 6MWT distance and the other parameters was analyzed using a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

There was a significant and positive relationship between 6MWT distance and lower limb muscle strength, whereas no significant correlations were found between the 6MWT distance and spasticity, resting heart rate, and heart rate during the 6MWT.