Validity and Reliability of the 6-minute Stepper Test in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Hemodynamic dysfunction and decreased blood flow to the extremities negatively affect patients' muscle oxygenation, balance, claudication pain, lower extremity muscle strength, and arterial stiffness. These negatively affect patients' exercise capacity. The six-minute stepper test (6 MST) is a simple, low-cost, and minimal space requirement assessment method used to evaluate functional exercise capacity and is known to be valid and reliable for various pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. However, it is not known whether the 6 MST is valid and reliable in assessing functional exercise capacity in patients with PAD. It is known that muscle oxygen levels, balance levels, intermittent claudication, lower extremity muscle strength, and arterial stiffness have negative effects on exercise capacity. However, the extent to which these variables affect the 6 MST is unknown. The primary aim is to examine the validity and reliability of the 6 MST in patients with PAD. The secondary aim is to evaluate arterial stiffness, muscle oxygen levels, intermittent claudication, static and dynamic balance levels, lower extremity muscle strength, and examine their effects on the 6 MST.