Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
Minimal clinically important difference in walking velocity, gait profile score and two minute walk test for
Bruce Carse1, Helen Scott1, Fiona Davie-Smith1
1West of Scotland Rehabilitation and Mobility Centre, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 1345 Govan Road, Glasgow, G51 4TF, UK.
Background:
Individuals with lower limb amputation are routinely assessed with a variety outcome measures, however there is a lack of published data to indicate minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for many of these outcome measures. Three such important gait-specific outcome measures include walking velocity, gait profile score (GPS) and the two minute walk test (2MWT).
Research Question:
Determine the MCIDs for walking velocity, GPS and 2MWT for individuals with lower limb amputation.
Methods:
Walking velocity and GPS (n = 60), and 2MWT (n = 119) data for individuals with unilateral transfemoral or knee disarticulation were identified retrospectively from a database held at the study centre. An anchor-based method was used with Medicare functional classification level (MFCL) acting as the impairment-related criterion, and a least-squares linear regression approach was used to calculate the gradient required for a change between MFCL levels.
Results:
An increase of 0.21 m/s (95 % CI: 0.13,0.29) for walking velocity, a reduction of 1.7° (95 % CI: -2.449,-1.097) for GPS and an increase of 37.2 m (95 % CI: 28.8,45.5) for 2MWT were found to correspond to an increase in MFCL of one level. Walking velocity, GPS and 2MWT correlated with MFCL with R2 values of 0.333, 0.322 and 0.398 respectively (p < 0.00001). The authors propose that 0.21 m/s for walking velocity, 1.7° for GPS and 37.2 m for 2MWT be used as MCID values for individuals with lower limb amputation.
Significance:
The results of this study can be used to help both researchers and clinicians to objectively evaluate if interventions for individuals with lower limb amputation are effective.
