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Within-day variability on short and long walking tests in persons with multiple sclerosis
Peter Feys1, Bo Bibby2, Anders Romberg3
1University of Hasselt, REVAL/BIOMED, Belgium.
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|January 21, 2014
Summary
Short walking tests in multiple sclerosis (MS) show consistent absolute variability, regardless of disability. Relative variability increases with disability for fastest speed tests, but remains stable for usual speed tests.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Clinical Biomechanics
Background:
- Assessing walking function is crucial in multiple sclerosis (MS) management.
- Understanding the within-day variability of different walking tests is essential for accurate interpretation of results.
- Short-term and long-term walking tests are commonly used, but their reliability within a single day needs comparison.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the within-day variability of short (10-meter walking test; 10MWT) and long (2- and 6-minute walking tests; 2MWT/6MWT) walking tests in individuals with MS.
- To determine if variability differs between tests performed at usual versus fastest speeds.
- To assess the influence of disability level on walking test variability.
Main Methods:
- An observational study was conducted across European and US MS rehabilitation centers.
- 102 ambulatory individuals with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale 0-6.5) participated.
- Walking tests (10MWT at usual and fastest speeds, 2MWT and 6MWT at fastest speed) were performed at three time points within a single day.
- Ninety-five percent limits of agreement were calculated using a random effects model to assess variability.
Main Results:
- Within-day variability in absolute units for the 10MWT, 2MWT, and 6MWT at fastest speed was constant across different disability levels.
- Absolute variability was greater for shorter tests (10MWT) compared to longer tests (2MWT, 6MWT).
- Relative within-day variability for the 10MWT at usual speed was approximately +/-31%, independent of ambulatory function, while fastest speed tests showed greater relative variability with increasing disability.
Conclusions:
- Absolute within-day variability of walking tests at fastest speed is independent of disability level in MS.
- Short walking tests exhibit greater absolute variability than long walking tests when performed at fastest speed.
- Relative within-day variability remains consistent when walking tests are performed at usual speed.
