Title: A new MAP for the 2-Minute Walk Test: Supporting young children’s performance
Name: Nicholas Kanetzke
Primary Presenters: Nicholas Kanetzke
College of Health Sciences
Research Doctorate (PhD)
Faculty Sponsor(s): Victoria Moerchen PT, PhD
A new MAP for the 2-Minute Walk Test: Supporting young children’s performance
N. Kanetzke BSN, MS; J. Westerdahl MS; A. Durham; C. Cho MS; V. Moerchen PT, PhD (Faculty Advisor)
Background/Significance: The 2 Minute Walk Test (2MWT) assesses functional exercise capacity. The standardized protocol (NIH Toolbox) is for ages 3-85 years, but the language of this protocol is arguably too advanced for the youngest participants and may underestimate the exercise capacity of young children. In fact, most studies that use this tool with young children report modifications to the standard protocol. To address this challenge, our lab developed the Modified Accessibility Path (MAP) protocol for standardized administration of the 2MWT with young children. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of children ages 3-6 years on the standardized and modified 2MWT protocols.
Methods: Quasi-randomized controlled trial (RCT). 15 typically developing children ages 3-6 years were randomly assigned to performance order of both versions of the 2MWT: (A) the NIH Toolbox protocol (standardized instructions for walking around 2 cones) and (B) the MAP protocol (age-appropriate instructions and a clear walking path). Dependent variables were duration and distance walked (power = 0.94). We hypothesized that MAPMAP-NIH > [MAPNIH-MAP = NIHMAP-NIH ] > NIHNIH-MAP for each variable. Analyses conducted via Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests.
Results: All children walked farther with the MAP protocol (p=0.0006) than the NIH protocol, accounted for by 100% completion of 2 minutes of walking with the MAP, regardless of protocol order (p = 0.003). Only 1 of the children exposed to the NIH protocol first completed the test. In total, only 40% of children completed the NIH protocol, with 83% of these NIH completers bolstered by exposure to the MAP protocol first.
Conclusions: The results of this Q-RCT support that the MAP protocol may offer a robust alternative to the NIH toolbox protocol, providing a standardized methodology to measure to functional exercise capacity in very young children who are otherwise unable to complete the test.
https://sites.uwm.edu/healthresearchsymposium/files/formidable/2/Kanetzke_2MWT_References.pdf
Very interesting results! Thanks for your work on this successful development of the standardization of this test for 3-6 year olds. It makes me wonder if there are other populations that would benefit from your standardization.
Very interesting!
Hi Nick! Your presentation answered one of my questions I had from Adane’s presentation. It is very interersting that not only more children complete the task, but they also walked further. I can only imagine my kiddo at that age walking ‘around’ the cone over and over again! The next step seems to be to get buy in from others with this modified protocol. How do you go about that other than dissemination?
Nick, it is wonderful to see the progression of your work. Keep up the good work.
Nick,
Congratulations on your work! It is so great to see the progress you are making. It is also great that I understand what you are studying. Keep up the great work!