Six-minute stepper test: a valid clinical exercise tolerance test for COPD patients

In this study, researchers examined the performance of the six-minute stepper test (6MST) in relation to two validated and widely-used exercise tolerance tests, the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise (testing CPET). Steps on the 6MST correlated with those taken on the 6MWT; power and oxygen consumption on the 6MST correlated moderately with the CPET, as well. Performances on both measures increased post-pulmonary rehabilitation and these improvements were moderately correlated. The authors offer the 6MST as an alternative to 6MWT in those environments where spatial constraints do not allow for administration of the 6MWT.