The 6-MAT assesses cardiovascular fitness in people with SCI (Hol et al. 2007).

Number of items:  N/A

Procedure/Administration: It involves 6 minutes of sub-maximal arm ergometry at a constant power output (PO). Through the use of published guidelines, clinicians can determine the appropriate PO. Baseline outcome variables of heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) are determined by recording the client’s exercising heart rate during the final 30 seconds of the test, and recording their RPE at the end of the test (Hol et al. 2007). The 6-MAT should be re-administered at the same PO for follow up tests, including those to assess changes resulting from cardiovascular fitness interventions.

How scored: N/a

Interpretability: Used after a fitness intervention or as a follow up measure, 6-MAT results can determine changes in fitness level. Decrease in heart rate and/or RPE may indicate an increase in cardiovascular fitness, whereas an increase in heart rate and/or RPE may indicate a decrease in cardiovascular fitness (Hol et al. 2007).

Acceptability: The test was designed specifically for individuals with SCI.

Languages: N/a

Usability: The test is easy to complete and can be administered to people of all fitness levels.

Time to administer: 6 minutes

Time to score: N/a

Training required: None

Availability: A complete set of guidelines and instructions can be found in Hol et al (2007).

Equipment required: An arm ergometer, heart rate monitor, and an RPE scale.

Summary:

• The 6-MAT is single stage test that is simple and quick to administer clinically, and is a practical test that can be administered to all fitness levels. Its reliability and concurrent validity for assessing cardiovascular fitness in people with SCI is excellent.
• The 6-MAT can be quickly conducted in most settings and the results provide immediate feedback about the fitness of the individual.

 Psychometric Summary

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; SS= Sensitivity/Specificity.

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

N/a= No information.

References

• Hol AT, Eng JJ, Miller WC, Sproule S, Krassioukov AV. Reliability and Validity of the Six-Minute Arm Test for the Evaluation of Cardiovascular Fitness in People With Spinal Cord Injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2007; 88:489-95.