Reliability and convergent validity of the 6-min run test in young adults with Down syndrome

doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.07.004

Disability and Health Journal

Volume 10, Issue 1, January 2017, Pages 105-113

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.07.004 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

There is limited evidence about the psychometric properties of field tests to measure cardiorespiratory fitness in people with Down syndrome.

Objective

This study aimed at analyzing the reliability and convergent validity of the 6-min run test when performed by young adults with Down syndrome (DS).

Methods

In a cross-sectional design fifty-one young adults with DS (mean age 26.20 ± 7.14 years; 54% women) performed the 6-min run test and the 16-min shuttle run test twice with a one week-interval between test and retest.

Results

The 6-min run test offered high reliability for the distances covered (ICC: 0.974; 95% CI: 0.955–0.985) and good reliability when comparing peak heart rate values obtained in the test and retest (ICC: 0.870; 95% CI: 0.772–0.926). A significant correlation between the 6-min run test and the 16-min shuttle run test was observed for the test (r = 0.705; Sig = 0.001), and retest phases (r = 0.651; Sig = 0.001). The relationship between the estimated maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max) peak after the performance of the 16-min shuttle run test and the distance covered by the 6-min run test was statistically significant (r > 0.7). No significant differences were found between the equations that estimate VO₂ peak for both tests.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the 6-min run test shows high test/retest reliability and moderate to moderately high convergent validity when performed by adults with DS.

Section snippets

Participants

Participants were recruited from two DS associations located in a region of the Spanish northwest. A purposive sample of 51 young adults (27 female, 24 male; age range 19–47 years old) was invited to take part in the study. They were required to meet the following inclusion criteria: (a) presenting trisomy 21; (b) being over 18 years old; (c) not attesting any gross visual or organic defect; and (d) being able to follow simple instructions. Participants who showed associated motor or sensory

Results

All participants completed the tests and no serious or adverse events were observed during performance. Mean values of the fundamental variables of this study are presented in Table 1. The sample was composed mainly of young adults with DS, in which 5.8% of the participants were older than 39. More than half were overweight (54.9%) and almost one third obese (29.4%). Obese participants showed lower mean peak HR values and achieved shorter distances both in the SMRT test and retest (Fig. 1).

Discussion

This study attempted to identify the level of reliability shown by the SMRT and to provide information about its convergent validity when administered to adults with DS. Given the scarcity of cardiorespiratory fitness field based tests whose psychometric properties have been analyzed in adults with DS, a confirmation of the usefulness of new tests which prove to be adequate for these populations is a relevant fact for a number reasons.¹⁸ Firstly, because it is not infrequent to find studies

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that SMRT shows high test/retest reliability and moderate to moderately high convergent validity when performed by adults with DS. Further studies aimed at identifying the criterion-related validity of this test for these populations seem to be called for.

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: Disclosures: Any disclosures of financial interest to declare.

: Conflict of interest: All the three authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Research PaperReliability and convergent validity of the 6-min run test in young adults with Down syndrome

Abstract

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

Participants

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

Res Dev Disabil

In Mayo Clin Proc

Res Dev Disabil

Res Dev Disabil

Res Dev Dis

Res Dev Disabil

Arch Phys Med Rehabil

Arch Phys Med Rehabil

J Sci Med Sport

Reduced work capacity in individuals with Down syndrome: a consequence of autonomic dysfunction?

Exer Sport Sci Rev

Comparing run performance of adolescents with mental retardation, with and without Down syndrome

Adapt Phys Act Q

Validity and reliability of the 1/2-mile run-walk as an indicator of aerobic fitness in children with mental retardation

Pediatric Exer Sci

Measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness in children from two commonly used field tests after accounting for body fatness and maturity

J Hum Kinet

Validity of the 16-metre PACER and six-minute walk test in adults with Down syndrome

Disabil Rehabil

Down syndrome: a cardiovascular perspective

J Intell Disabil Res

The Physical Performance Test for California

Reliability of two tests for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness in preschool children

J Strength Cond Res

Feasibility of 2 cardiorespiratory function field-based tests on adults with Down syndrome

Int Med Rev Down Syndr

Research Paper
Reliability and convergent validity of the 6-min run test in young adults with Down syndrome