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Thirty-Second Walk Test: Expansion of Normative Data
Michael Lieberstein1, Goldie Weingarten, Carlo Vialu
1Physical Therapy Department (Messrs Lieberstein and Covino, Mss Weingarten and Itzkowitz, and Dr Doyle), NYC Department of Education, New York; Apply EBP, LLC (Mr Vialu), New York, New York; Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences (Dr Kaplan), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey.
Purpose:
To collect 30-second walk test (30sWT) normative data on a large, diverse sample of school children developing typically, ages 5 to 13 years, and describe the influences of gender, body mass index, and path shape on distance walked.
Methods:
Five physical therapists administered the 30sWT on 1223 children developing typically (boys = 517, girls = 706) from 20 urban schools.
Results:
Average distances (standard deviation) ranged from 139.1 (20.3) to 163.0 (18.6) ft; children aged 10 years walked the farthest and those aged 5 years the shortest. Distance steadily increased from ages 5 to 10 years, steadily decreased from ages 11 to 13 years; children aged 8, 9, and 10 years had statistical but not functionally meaningful gender differences. Body mass index and path shape had no meaningful effects. Distance and velocities are similar to prior studies.
Conclusion:
This study updated 30sWT normative values with a large, ethnically diverse, urban sample developing typically. Norms may be useful as part of a comprehensive examination.
