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Quantitative Synthesis of Timed 25-Foot Walk Performance in Multiple Sclerosis
E Morghen Sikes1, Katie L Cederberg1, Brian M Sandroff2
1School of Health Professions, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|November 1, 2019
Summary
The timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) is significantly slower in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls. Disability and disease progression further impact T25FW performance in MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting mobility.
- The timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) is a common measure of ambulatory function in MS.
- Quantifying T25FW differences is crucial for understanding disease impact and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To meta-analyze T25FW performance in MS patients.
- To compare T25FW scores between MS patients and controls.
- To analyze T25FW differences based on MS disability and clinical course.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across four databases.
- Inclusion of articles reporting average T25FW in seconds.
- Random effects meta-analysis to calculate effect sizes (Cohen d) and mean differences.
Main Results:
- MS patients showed significantly slower T25FW than controls (mean difference: 2.4s).
- Individuals with moderate/severe MS disability walked slower than those with mild disability (mean difference: 5.4s).
- Progressive MS courses exhibited slower T25FW than relapsing-remitting courses (mean difference: 13.4s).
Conclusions:
- T25FW is a sensitive indicator of ambulatory impairment in MS.
- Disability severity and disease course significantly influence walking speed in MS.
- These findings support T25FW's utility in MS clinical trials and practice.
