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6 minute walk test
- gilders
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6 years 7 months ago #218489 by gilders
6 minute walk test was created by gilders
Hi,
I hope you can advise whether sending the results of a 6 minute walk test would be beneficial, or detrimental?
The results for the two 6 minutes tests were, 181 metres and 208 metres.
At a quick glance, this would like I should either get 0 mobility points, or 4 points. But this really does not show the true picture.
Firstly the speed is less than half that of a normal walking pace - 181 metres = 30.17 metres/minute and 208 metres = 34.67 metres/minute, compared to average walking speed of 5 Km/h (83.3 metres/minute).
Secondly, this test was done as part of my rehabilitation to assess if my transplant can go ahead. This is so important and relevant to me as I would not be walking at this pace and this far at any other time. I will go through any pain and push myself beyond my limits to get this transplant.
Thirdly, I most certainly can't repeat this reliably, or safely (All my vision went black and everything sounded muffled and I nearly passed out).
Fourthly, I had 4 tests in total, but the nurses would not even allow me to attempt it on two of the occasions as they could see how much pain I was in.
But the big worry is seeing the "headline" figures of 181 metres and 208 metres.
So, should I include this letter or not? I don't want to claim something I'm not entitled to, but don't want to be denied what I'm entitled to because the assessor has only looked at the metres covered and not take in to consideration the circumstance around it.
I hope you can advise whether sending the results of a 6 minute walk test would be beneficial, or detrimental?
The results for the two 6 minutes tests were, 181 metres and 208 metres.
At a quick glance, this would like I should either get 0 mobility points, or 4 points. But this really does not show the true picture.
Firstly the speed is less than half that of a normal walking pace - 181 metres = 30.17 metres/minute and 208 metres = 34.67 metres/minute, compared to average walking speed of 5 Km/h (83.3 metres/minute).
Secondly, this test was done as part of my rehabilitation to assess if my transplant can go ahead. This is so important and relevant to me as I would not be walking at this pace and this far at any other time. I will go through any pain and push myself beyond my limits to get this transplant.
Thirdly, I most certainly can't repeat this reliably, or safely (All my vision went black and everything sounded muffled and I nearly passed out).
Fourthly, I had 4 tests in total, but the nurses would not even allow me to attempt it on two of the occasions as they could see how much pain I was in.
But the big worry is seeing the "headline" figures of 181 metres and 208 metres.
So, should I include this letter or not? I don't want to claim something I'm not entitled to, but don't want to be denied what I'm entitled to because the assessor has only looked at the metres covered and not take in to consideration the circumstance around it.
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- Gordon
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6 years 7 months ago #218492 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic 6 minute walk test
gilders
You don't say how far you assess yourself as being able to reliably walk on the majority of days, so it is difficult to offer advice.
The Moving Around activity is about the distance you can walk, speed and repeatability have to be considered but it will be the distance that is looked at first, so I would think very carefully about using the report, especially if you are hoping to score for a shorter distance.
Gordon
You don't say how far you assess yourself as being able to reliably walk on the majority of days, so it is difficult to offer advice.
The Moving Around activity is about the distance you can walk, speed and repeatability have to be considered but it will be the distance that is looked at first, so I would think very carefully about using the report, especially if you are hoping to score for a shorter distance.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- gilders
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6 years 7 months ago #218498 by gilders
Replied by gilders on topic 6 minute walk test
Hi Gordon,
A bit of background information -
I have been on DLA for about 12 years. From the first application to every renewal,I've been assessed at low care and high mobility, the last assessment being a "lifetime" one.
For my PIP application form I said that I could walk 20 - 50 metres on good days, but have ticked the up to 20 metres box as this is the only distance I can reliably walk.
During the face to face I was asked how far. I took a while to answer and she said, "If it's easier, for how many minutes can you walk?". I answered I'm not sure, but know that I would have to stop after about 15 steps (I'm certain 15 steps is under 20 metres).
I have received a copy of my face to face report and there is no mention of the amount of steps, she has written that I said for 1 minute, which she put in brackets "60metres/minute". I never gave a time or distance (except for the distance on claim form), just how many steps. There is a multitude of inaccuracies and assumptions, but I'll keep this topic on track.
I only scored 4 points for moving around (0 for following a route). I expected to pick up some points for following a route. I do not know if it is worth risking losing/lowering my high rate care with an appeal for mobility.
A bit of background information -
I have been on DLA for about 12 years. From the first application to every renewal,I've been assessed at low care and high mobility, the last assessment being a "lifetime" one.
For my PIP application form I said that I could walk 20 - 50 metres on good days, but have ticked the up to 20 metres box as this is the only distance I can reliably walk.
During the face to face I was asked how far. I took a while to answer and she said, "If it's easier, for how many minutes can you walk?". I answered I'm not sure, but know that I would have to stop after about 15 steps (I'm certain 15 steps is under 20 metres).
I have received a copy of my face to face report and there is no mention of the amount of steps, she has written that I said for 1 minute, which she put in brackets "60metres/minute". I never gave a time or distance (except for the distance on claim form), just how many steps. There is a multitude of inaccuracies and assumptions, but I'll keep this topic on track.
I only scored 4 points for moving around (0 for following a route). I expected to pick up some points for following a route. I do not know if it is worth risking losing/lowering my high rate care with an appeal for mobility.
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- Gordon
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6 years 6 months ago #218503 by Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gordon on topic 6 minute walk test
Gliders
Re Moving Around
You are not required to walk pain free but any pain that restricts the distance that you can walk should be taken into account.
Specifically for the Moving Around activity, if you are able to walk but you are in severe pain when doing so, then you can argue that your walking is not to a necessary standard and should be disregarded.
The legal test requires you to stand and then move (walk), so if you have problems getting up then you should document these as well.
If you walk slowly then it must take you at least twice the time to cover the 20m as a healthy person would, this could be down to the speed of your walking but could also be the result of having to stop.
You must be able to repeat the distance, so if you could walk it once but not then be able to walk it again within a reasonable timescale then you should be classed as unable to repeat the activity.
I'm afraid I can't tell you how to show your walking is more restricted but things you need to think about is what you can't do, for example what can you walk in your house, how far is the toilet from where you normally sit, things that will count against you are any trips that you make outside, so for example, how do you do your shopping?
You must be able to walk the distance you can, reliably and on the majority of days, both these terms are defined in the PIP Claim guide
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip
So you need to explain what you can, how you are limited and why.
The Going Out activity looks at three things.
Planning a route - this is primarily a cognitive or sensory (e.g. blindness) activity. You are being asked about the problems you would have with working out how to get from one place to another, you do not need to be able to follow the route that you are planning.
Undertaking a Journey - this is to do with mental health issues such as agoraphobia and social anxiety and is concerned with you leaving the house to go somewhere, they will be interested in the things that stop you doing this. You need to show that you would suffer "overwhelming psychological distress" to meet the criteria.
Following a route - This activity about the problems you would have navigating a route. So are there problems; cognitive, sensory or mental health issues that would prevent you from doing this? This is different from undertaking a journey, in fact, if you cannot undertake a journey then you will not score points for following one and vice versa.
Gordon
Re Moving Around
You are not required to walk pain free but any pain that restricts the distance that you can walk should be taken into account.
Specifically for the Moving Around activity, if you are able to walk but you are in severe pain when doing so, then you can argue that your walking is not to a necessary standard and should be disregarded.
The legal test requires you to stand and then move (walk), so if you have problems getting up then you should document these as well.
If you walk slowly then it must take you at least twice the time to cover the 20m as a healthy person would, this could be down to the speed of your walking but could also be the result of having to stop.
You must be able to repeat the distance, so if you could walk it once but not then be able to walk it again within a reasonable timescale then you should be classed as unable to repeat the activity.
I'm afraid I can't tell you how to show your walking is more restricted but things you need to think about is what you can't do, for example what can you walk in your house, how far is the toilet from where you normally sit, things that will count against you are any trips that you make outside, so for example, how do you do your shopping?
You must be able to walk the distance you can, reliably and on the majority of days, both these terms are defined in the PIP Claim guide
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/help-for-claimants/pip
So you need to explain what you can, how you are limited and why.
The Going Out activity looks at three things.
Planning a route - this is primarily a cognitive or sensory (e.g. blindness) activity. You are being asked about the problems you would have with working out how to get from one place to another, you do not need to be able to follow the route that you are planning.
Undertaking a Journey - this is to do with mental health issues such as agoraphobia and social anxiety and is concerned with you leaving the house to go somewhere, they will be interested in the things that stop you doing this. You need to show that you would suffer "overwhelming psychological distress" to meet the criteria.
Following a route - This activity about the problems you would have navigating a route. So are there problems; cognitive, sensory or mental health issues that would prevent you from doing this? This is different from undertaking a journey, in fact, if you cannot undertake a journey then you will not score points for following one and vice versa.
Gordon
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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