Análise do desempenho em grupo de mulheres adultas no teste de caminhada de seis minutos Performance analysis of a group of healthy women during six minutes walk test

Introduction: The six minute walk test (SMWT) is used to evaluate the functional capacity of exercise in individuals with cardiorespiratory impairments. Studies already had established the regression equation to predict the walked distance in healthy Caucasian people, however, it was not yet established in the Brazilian population, besides, it is questionable its validation to evaluate the aerobic capacity in this population. Objectives: To evaluate the initial and final values related to cardiovascular parameters and to nalysis the correlation of walked distance with anthropometric variables in the SMWT in health Marilia citizen women. Method: Seventeen women living in Marilia aged between 45 and 58 years old participated in this study. The SMWT was applied according to a standardized protocol, applied once on each participant during the morning. It was measured: systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR), double product was calculated (DP = HR x SBP) before and after the test. Significative difference set at p < 0.05. Results: Initial values related to HR, SBP and DP, respectively: 69.1 ± 13 ppm, 110 ± 13 mmHg and 7571.3 ± 1981 ppm x mmHg; final values concerning to HR, SBP and DP, respectively: 88.3 ± 19ppm, 121.3 ± 23 mmHg and 10661 ± 3236 ppm x mmHg. It was not observed correlation of walked distance with age, weight, height and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: There was significant difference between final and initial values related to HR and DP. There was no correlation of walked distance with age, weight, height and BMI. We suggest that SBP is not well evaluated in the SMWT, and that this test does not suffer significative influence by anthropometric parameters that belong to the regression equation.