Neuromuscular Changes During the Six-Minute Walk Test in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease.
Pediatr Hematol OncolJul 5, 2026 (epub)
Victoria G Marchese, Simon K Ho, Vicki L Gray
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In 30 seconds
This clinical trial examined neuromuscular changes during the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). Compared to normative values, participants covered less distance (482.7 ± 91.9 m vs. 625.9 ± 55.1 m; p = 0.002) and exhibited a higher resting heart rate (108.5 ± 11.7 bpm vs. 90.3 ± 5.0 bpm; p = 0.023).
Key findings
- Children/adolescents with SCD covered less distance during the 6MWT (482.7 ± 91.9 m) compared to norms (625.9 ± 55.1 m; p = 0.002).
- Resting heart rate was significantly higher in SCD patients (108.5 ± 11.7 bpm) than in matched norms (90.3 ± 5.0 bpm; p = 0.023).
- EMG median frequency decreased significantly from pre-start (82.7 ± 11.7 Hz) to the Start of walking (68.5 ± 21.7 Hz; p = 0.028).
- Heart rate increased steadily throughout the 6MWT, reaching 142.1 ± 24.2 bpm at the End (p = 0.009).
Why it matters
Understanding the physical limitations and neuromuscular changes in children with SCD during exercise can inform clinical assessments and guide the development of tailored exercise interventions to improve their physical function and quality of life.