EFFECT OF FUNCTIONAL EXERCISE (SIX MINUTE WALK TEST) ON BLOOD PRESSURE, PULSE RATE AND OXYGEN SATURATION IN NORMAL WEIGHT SUBJECTS

ABSTRACT

The six minute walk test is a simple cardiopulmonary functional test that does not require complex equipment or technical expertise. It uses the six minute walked distance (6MWD), at a normal pace on a hard surface measuring 30 meter. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of functional exercise capacity in normal weight young adult individuals. Measured parameters included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2) and distance covered (m) during the 6-minute walk test. The design required the subjects to walk back and forth on a 30-meter hallway at their normal pace for six minutes. A total of 40 normal weight subjects aged 18-28years from the University of Benin, participated in this study. Measurements were taken of the subject’s baseline blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation before and after the 6-minute walk test. The total number of meters walked was calculated by multiplying the counted and recorded numbers of laps travelled by 60 meters. The statistical analysis was performed with Graph Pad Prism Version 8.1. The standard error of mean (SEM) was used in tables and graphs to display the results. The dependent and independent variable means were compared using the student t-test. P<0.05 was accepted as significant. Results revealed no statistical significant difference in blood pressure (BP), pulse rate, and oxygen saturation (SpO2). This led to a conclusion that in normal weight young adult individuals, functional exercise capacity (six minute walk test) had no effect on blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen saturation.