STEP TEST

AN EXPERIENCE REPORT ON TEACHING RESPIRATORY PHYSIOTHERAPY

Abstract

SDGs: 3 – Good health and well-being; 4 – Quality education.

Abstract: Physiotherapy education requires teaching strategies that foster the integration of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice, particularly in courses involving functional assessment and clinical reasoning. In this context, this study aims to report the experience of Physiotherapy students during a practical assessment class in the Respiratory Physiotherapy course, utilizing the Six-Minute Step Test (6MST). This is an experience report conducted at the UNIFANOR WYDEN University Center during the first semester of 2026, involving students enrolled in the aforementioned course. The activity was structured collaboratively, with students divided into groups responsible for performing the test, monitoring participants, recording data, and managing the protocol. The 6MST was selected because it is a simple, low-cost tool widely used to assess the functional capacity of individuals with cardiorespiratory limitations. Data collected included anthropometric measurements, physical activity habits, the presence of chronic diseases, vital signs, and subjective perception of exertion (using the Borg Scale). Results showed active student participation throughout all stages of the activity, fostering the development of skills related to physiotherapeutic assessment, clinical monitoring, data interpretation, and teamwork. An increase in heart rate and perceived exertion was observed in all participants—physiological responses consistent with the test's intensity—with no adverse clinical events. Although some students initially struggled to apply the predictive formula used to calculate 6MST reference values, faculty guidance enabled a proper understanding of the protocol. Regarding functional performance, all participants achieved satisfactory results, with values ​​close to or exceeding those predicted for their individual characteristics. The experience gained is considered to have enabled the application of theoretical knowledge regarding the assessment of functional capacity and the monitoring of physiological responses to exercise through the performance of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). It is recommended that further experiences and studies be conducted within the context of Physiotherapy education—incorporating systematic learning assessment strategies—to more objectively investigate the contributions of practical activities to the development of professional competencies.

Keywords: Respiratory Physiotherapy, Teaching, Exercise Test, Physiotherapy Modalities.