PERFORMANCE OF SIX MINUTES’ WALK TEST AND GRIP STRENGTH CORRELATION AMONG HEALTHY YOUNG INDIVIDUALS

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Six Minutes’ Walk Test (6MWT) and grip strength correlation among healthy young individuals across different age groups. Understanding the relationship between aerobic capacity and muscle strength in young adults can provide insights into physical fitness assessment and intervention planning. Materials & Methods: A total of 155 subjects were initially enrolled in the study, with 150 subjects selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Four subjects withdrew, resulting in a final sample size of 146 subjects. Participants were divided into three age groups: 15 to 21 years, 22 to 28 years, and 29 to 35 years, with 46 subjects in each group. The 6MWT was conducted in a standardized indoor corridor, and grip strength was measured using the Jamar Plus+ Digital Hand Dynamometer. Data analysis included calculating means, standard deviations, and conducting ANOVA tests to determine differences between groups. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between 6MWT performance and grip strength. Results: The 15 to 21 years group showed the highest mean distance in the 6MWT (658.96 meters), followed by the 22 to 28 years group (611.55 meters) and the 29 to 35 years group (604.96 meters), with significant differences between groups (F = 0.734, P = 0.02). The 15 to 21 years group also had the highest mean dominant hand grip strength (40.39 kg) and non-dominant hand grip strength (27.35 kg). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a weak negative correlation between 6MWT performance and dominant hand grip strength (r = -0.207, P = 0.015), while no significant correlation was found with non-dominant hand grip strength. Conclusion: This study highlighted significant differences in 6MWT performance and grip strength among healthy young individuals in different age groups. Younger individuals demonstrated better aerobic capacity and muscle strength. The weak negative correlation between 6MWT performance and dominant hand grip strength suggests that these measures assess different aspects of physical fitness. These findings emphasize the need for age-specific fitness assessments and targeted training programs to enhance physical performance. Keywords: Six Minutes’ Walk Test, Grip Strength, Young Adults, Physical Fitness, Aerobic Capacity, Muscle Strength, Jamar Dynamometer