10 Metre Walk Test

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Objective
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The 10 Metre Walk Test is a performance measure used to assess walking speed in metres per second over a short distance. It can be employed to determine functional mobility, gait and vestibular function.

Intended Population
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Preschool children (2-5 years), children (6-12 years), adolescents (13-17 years), adults (18-64 years), alderly adults (65+) with a range of diagnoses including: 

  • Acquired Brain Injury
  • Geriatrics
  • Hip Fracture
  • Lower Limb Amputation
  • Movement Disorders
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Spinal Cord Injury
  • Stroke
  • Traumatic Brain Injury

Method of Use[edit | edit source]

Equipment Required

  • Stopwatch
  • A clear pathway with set distance (6, 8, 10 metres in length depending on distance tested)


Set Up

Measure and mark a 10-metre walkway

  • Add a mark at 2-metres
  • Add a mark at 8-metres


Instructions

  • The individual walks without assistance for 10 metres, with the time measured for the intermediate 6 metres to allow for acceleration and deceleration
  • Assistive devices may be used, but must be kept consistent and documented for each test
  • Start timing when the toes pass the 2 metre mark
  • Stop timing when the toes pass the 8 metre mark
  • Can be tested at either preferred walking speed or maximum walking speed (ensure to document which was tested)
  • Perform three trials and calculate the average of three trials


Patient Instructions

Normal comfortable speed: “I will say ready, set, go. When I say go, walk at your normal comfortable speed until I say stop”

  • Maximum speed trials: “I will say ready, set, go. When I say go, walk as fast as you safely can until I say stop”


Evidence[edit | edit source]

Reliability[edit | edit source]

Test-Retest Reliability

Children with Neuromuscular Disease:
(n = 29; mean age = 11.5 (3.5) years (6-16), Children with Neuromuscular Disease)

  • Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.91) [1]

Healthy Adults:

  • Excellent test-retest reliability for comfortable gait speed (r = 0.75 - 0.90) [2]
  • Excellent test-retest reliability for comfortable and fastest gait speeds (ICC = 0.93 - 0.91) [3]

Hip Fracture:

  • Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.823 with 95% CI = 0.565 to 0.934) [4]

Parkinson’s Disease or Parkinsonism:

  • Excellent test-retest reliability for comfortable gait speed (ICC = 0.96)
  • [5] Excellent test-retest reliability for maximum gait speed (ICC = 0.97)

SCI:

  • [6]Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.97)
  • [7]Excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.983)

Stroke:
(n = 25; mean age = 72 years; stroke onset = 2 to 6 years, Chronic Stroke)
Test-retest assessed three times within a single session:

  • [8] Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.95 to 0.99)
  • [9] Excellent reliability for comfortable (ICC = 0.94) and fast (ICC = 0.97) gait speeds 

TBI:

  • [10] Excellent between day reliability at comfortable (ICC = 0.95) and fast speeds (ICC = 0.96)
  • [2] Excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.97 - 0.99)

Validity[edit | edit source]

Responsiveness[edit | edit source]

Miscellaneous
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Links[edit | edit source]

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

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  1. ↑ Pirpiris, M., Wilkinson, A., et al. "Walking speed in children and young adults with neuromuscular disease: comparison between two assessment methods." Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics 2003 23(3): 302
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Watson, M. J. "Refining the ten-metre walking test for use with neurologically impaired people." Physiotherapy 2002 88(7): 386-397
  3. ↑ Bohannon, R. W. "Comfortable and maximum walking speed of adults aged 20-79 years: reference values and determinants." Age Ageing 1997 26(1): 15-19
  4. ↑ Hollman, J. H., Beckman, B. A., et al. "Minimum detectable change in gait velocity during acute rehabilitation following hip fracture." J Geriatr Phys There 2008 31(2): 53-56
  5. ↑ Steffen, T. and Seney, M. "Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change on balance and ambulation tests, the 36-item short-form health survey, and the unified Parkinson disease rating scale in people with parkinsonism." Physical Therapy 2008 88(6): 733-746
  6. ↑ Bowden, M. G. and Behrman, A. L. "Step Activity Monitor: accuracy and test-retest reliability in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury." J Rehabil Res Dev 2007 44(3): 355-362
  7. ↑ Lam, T., Noonan, V., et al. "A systematic review of functional ambulation outcome measures in spinal cord injury." Spinal Cord 2007 46(4): 246-254
  8. ↑ Collen, F., Wade, D., et al. "Mobility after stroke: reliability of measures of impairment and disability." Disability & Rehabilitation 1990 12(1): 6-9
  9. ↑ Flansbjer, U. B., Holmback, A. M., et al. "Reliability of gait performance tests in men and women with hemiparesis after stroke." J Rehabil Med 2005 37(2): 75-82
  10. ↑ van Loo, M. A., Moseley, A. M., et al. "Test-re-test reliability of walking speed, step length and step width measurement after traumatic brain injury: a pilot study." Brain Inj 2004 18(10): 1041-1048
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