The reliability and validity of the 30-Second Fast-Paced Walk Test in patients with total knee arthroplasty

Walking speed is a significant measure of functional ability and recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The 30-Second Fast-Paced Walk Test (30SFW) is a simple, low-cost, and easy-to-administer assessment method that evaluates short-distance walking ability.

To investigate the reliability and validity of the 30SFW test in patients with TKA.

This study was designed as a repeated-measures study conducted by one assessor. 38 patients with TKA who had undergone primary TKA at least 6 months earlier (mean age 70.11 ± 10.19 years) were included in the study. The 30SFW, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score, and Short Form (SF)-12 Quality of Life Questionnaire were administered to the patients. The 30SFW was administered twice at a single center on the same day, with an hour-long rest interval between sessions.

The test-retest reliability of the 30SFW was excellent. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC [2, 1]), minimal detectable change (MDC95), and standard error of the measurement (SEM) values were 0.98, 2.91, and 1.05, respectively, at the 95% confidence level. The Pearson correlation coefficient of the 30SFW with the physical component of the SF-12 was 0.45 (p = 0.005).

The 30SFW has excellent test-retest reliability and moderate concurrent validity in assessing walking ability in patients with TKA. The MDC95 was 2.91 m, indicating the minimum change required to exceed measurement error under similar testing conditions. Further studies are needed to determine the clinically important change and responsiveness of the 30SFW in this population.