Six-minute walk test (6MWT) performance is more commonly used in clinic patients with chronic cardiopulmonary diseases but not in home-dwelling individuals of similar age, and its correlations with oxygen uptake (VO2) and muscle strength require further investigation. The current study determined the 6MWT performance of 106 home-dwelling residents (mean age of 62 years) in Suzhou, China. VO2 at a respiratory exchange ratio (R) of 1 was measured through graded cycling exercise tests on 46 participants. Handgrip strength of all participants was tested. 6MWT distance measured 543.4 ± 67.2 m (total work 351.0 ± 62.8 kJ) with similar distances ambulated each minute. Heart rate, blood pressure, and rate of perceived exertion scores significantly increased after 6MWT. VO2 at R = 1 reached 1238 ± 342 mL/min (18.6 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min), whereas handgrip strength totaled 29.8 ± 9.6 kg. 6MWT distance showed strong correlations with VO2 (r = 0.549, p ≤ 0.001) and handgrip strength (r = 0.359, p < 0.001). Aside from providing reference values for 6MWT performance (~543 m, ~559 m in males and ~533 in females) for home-dwelling Chinese residents, our results suggest that as a parameter of exercise endurance, 6MWT performance correlates with both aerobic capacity and muscle fitness.

Objective To explore the effects of resistance combined with stretching exercise on improving the motor function in patients with chronic stroke.Methods 18 patients with chronic stroke were selected from several communities in Suzhou from February to May 2016. The participants were randomly divided into the control group (n=9) and the intervention group (n=9). The control group received a resistance training while the intervention group received a combined exercise (i.e. resistance and stretching). During the four weeks of intervention,four participants dropped out of the study (two for control group and two for intervention group). Comparing the walking ability,balance function and muscle strength before and after the intervention. The assessment included six-minute walk test (6MWT),modified Barthel index (MBI),functional independence scale (FIM),Berg balance scale (BBS),and grip strength.Results After the intervention,both groups had a significant improvement in 6MWD,MBI,BBS,FIM,and grip strength,but the intervention group had an additional success in MBI (P<0.05). Before the intervention,there was limited difference in 6MWT, MBI,BBS,FIM and grip strength between two groups (P>0.05). However,after the intervention,the participants in the intervention group showed a significant progress in BBS and grip strength for the diseased side compared with the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions Both resistance training and stretching exercise can improve the muscle strength,balance function and walking ability in patients with chronic stroke. But the combined training has shown a crucial benefit for muscle strength and balance ability compared with a purely resistance training.