Testing a stepping exercise test for lung disease at home

Researchers want to validate a new test called the 6-minute stepper test—a simple exercise where you step up and down—to measure how well people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD) are doing. This study will compare the stepping test to other established fitness tests and see if it works just as well when you do it at home with a therapist watching in person or through a video call.

Current tests to measure fitness in people with lung disease can be difficult to do at home or require lots of equipment. This research aims to prove that a stepping test is accurate, safe, and practical enough to use in people's own homes—either with direct supervision or remotely—to help track how their condition is changing over time.