The European Respiratory Society and American Thoracic Society have recently published new standards for field walking tests, including the six minute walk test (6MWT).  The 6MWT is a standardized test therefore, specific guidelines should be followed when administering the test.  Find this new important information here:  Holland AE, Spruit MA, Troosters T, Puhan MA, et.al. An official European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society technical standard:  field walking tests in chronic respiratory disease.  Eur Respir J 2014; 44:1428-1446.  Click on this link to find the article: http://www.thoracic.org/statements/pages/copd.php