10 Metre Walk Test

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Objective[edit | edit source]

The 10 Metre Walk Test is a performance measure used to assess walking speed in meters per second over a short distance[1]. It can be employed to determine functional mobility, gait, and vestibular function[2].

Blender3D NormalWalkCycle.gif

Normative Values[edit | edit source]

Age

(Men and Women)

Average Walking Speed

(m/s)

20-29 1.36-1.34 m/s
30-39 1.43-1.34 m/s
40-49 1.43-1.39 m/s
50-59 1.43-1.31 m/s
60-69 1.34-1.24 m/s
70-79 1.26-1.13 m/s
80-990 0.97-0.94 m/s

Walking Speed m/s - Household Ambulator <0.40 m/s; Limited Community Ambulator 0.40 to <0.80 m/s; Community Ambulator ≥0.80 m/s[3]

Calculating Gait Speed - total distance/time. For example: if you did a 10-meter gait speed test and it took you 7 seconds, the equation would like: 10 meters / 7 seconds = 1.4 meters per second.[4]

Intended Population[edit | edit source]

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

Method of Use[edit | edit source]

Equipment Required

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


Set-Up

  • Measure and mark a clear path of at least 10-meters in length
  • Add a mark at 2-metres
  • Add a mark at 8-metres


Scoring

  • The total time taken to ambulate 6 meters is recorded
    • Timing starts when the toes pass the 2-meter mark
    • Timing stops when the toes pass the 8-meter mark
  • The 6m is then divided by the total time taken (in seconds) to completed
  • The total time is recorded in m/s


Instructions

  • The individual walks without assistance for 10 meters, with the time measured for the intermediate 6 meters 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-meter 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”


[5]



Evidence[edit | edit source]

Reliability[edit | edit source]

The 10-meter walk test has demonstrated excellent reliability in many conditions including healthy adults, children with neuromuscular disease, Parkinson's disease, hip fracture, Spinal cord injury, Stroke, and Traumatic brain injury.

Test-Retest Reliability[edit | edit source]

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) [6]


Healthy Adults:

  • Excellent test-retest reliability for comfortable gait speed (r = 0.75 - 0.90) [7]
  • Excellent test-retest reliability for comfortable and fastest gait speeds (ICC = 0.93 - 0.91) [8]


Hip Fracture:

  • Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.823 with 95% CI = 0.565 to 0.934) [9]


Parkinson’s Disease or Parkinsonism:

  • Excellent test-retest reliability for comfortable gait speed (ICC = 0.96)
  • Excellent test-retest reliability for maximum gait speed (ICC = 0.97) [10]


SCI:

  • Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.97) [11]
  • Excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.983) [12]


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

  • Excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.95 to 0.99) [13]
  • Excellent reliability for comfortable (ICC = 0.94) and fast (ICC = 0.97) gait speeds [14]


TBI (Traumatic brain injury):

  • Excellent between day reliability at comfortable (ICC = 0.95) and fast speeds (ICC = 0.96) [15]
  • Excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.97 - 0.99) [7]


Interrater/Intrarater Reliability[edit | edit source]

Healthy Adults: (n = 28 healthy adults; mean age = 56.43 (+/- 13.82) years)

  • Excellent interrater reliability (ICC = 0.980) [16]


SCI ( Spinal cord injury):

  • Excellent intrarater reliability (r = 0.983, p < 0.001)
  • Excellent interrater reliability (r = 0.974, p < 0.001)
  • Bland-Altman plots indicate reliability as being excellent when completed in under 40 seconds, but reliability decreases with marginal walkers requiring > 40 seconds to complete [17]
  • Scivoletto et al 2011 (n = 37; median age = 58.5 (range 19 - 77) years; median time from onset = 24 (range 6 - 109) months; AIS D = 35, C = 2; Median WISCI = 16) utilized 2 methods in chronic SCI (measured 10 m with a static start and measured middle 10 m of 14 m walkway to include acceleration and deceleration), both showing:
    • Excellent interrater reliability (ICC > 0.95)
    • Excellent intrarater reliability (ICC > 0.98) [18]


Stroke: (Wolf et al, 1999; n = 28 with history of stroke; mean age = 56.04 (12.80) years; mean time since lesion = 13.59 (12.30) months, Chronic Stroke)

  • Excellent intrarater reliability; ICC = 0.87 to 0.88 [13]
  • Excellent interrater reliability; (ICC = 0.998) [16]


TBI (Traumatic brain injury): (Tyson & Connell, 2009; review of seventeen measures; n = 12 mobile TBI patients, TBI)

  • Excellent interrater reliability (ICC = 0.99) [19]

Validity[edit | edit source]

Criterion Validity[edit | edit source]

Multiple Sclerosis: (Paltamaa et al, 2007; n = 120; mean age = 45.0 (10.8) years; mean duration since symptom onset 12.3 (8.8) years, MS)
Predictive Validity [20]:

  • Excellent correlation with dependence in self-care (r = 0.60 - 0.87) at comfortable speed
  • Adequate to Excellent correlation with dependence in mobility (r = 0.34 - 0.74) at comfortable speed
  • Adequate to excellent correlation with dependence in domestic life (r = 0.34 - 0.81) at comfortable speed


Stroke: (Tyson & Connell, 2009; n = 40, review article of 17 measures, Stroke)
Predictive Validity [19]:

  • Excellent correlation with dependence in instrumental activities of daily living (r = 0.76)
  • Excellent correlation with Barthel Index (r = 0.78

Construct Validity[edit | edit source]

Healthy Adults:

  • Poor correlation with BBT (r = 0.052)
  • Adequate correlation with FRT (r = 0.307) [16]


Hip Fracture:

  • Excellent correlation with 6MWT (correlation coefficient = 0.82)
  • Adequate correlation with LE strength (r = 0.51)
  • Adequate correlation with LE power (r = 0.58)
  • Poor correlation with hip pain (r = -0.23)
  • Poor correlation with bodily pain (r = 0.30)
  • Poor correlation with vitality (r = 0.26)
  • Adequate correlation with physical role (r = 0.54)
  • Adequate correlation with social role (r = 0.42) [21]

Convergent Validity[edit | edit source]

SCI (Spinal cord injury):

  • Excellent correlation between the TUG and 10MWT (r = 0.89, n = 70)
  • Excellent correlation between 10MWT and 6MWT (ρ = -0.95, n = 62)
  • Subgroup comparisons of WISCI II and 10MWT
  • Excellent correlation between WISCI II and 10MWT when testing individuals with WISCI II scores 11 - 20 (p = -0.68, n = 47)
  • Poor correlation between the WISCI II and 10MWT when testing individuals with WISCI II scores 0 - 10 (r = -0.24, n = 20)
  • Adequate but not significant correlation between WISCI II (0-8,10,11,14,17), dependent walkers (r = -0.35, n = 15)
  • Adequate correlation between WISCI II (9,12,13,15,16,18-20) independent walkers (r = -0.48, n = 43)
  • Overall, improved validity in individuals who are less impaired, higher walking ability, and do not require assistance [22]


Stroke:

  • Excellent correlation between comfortable gait speed and TUG (ICC = -0.84), FGS (ICC = 0.92), Stair climbing ascend (SCas) (ICC = -0.81), Stair climbing descend (SCde) (ICC = -0.82), 6MWT (ICC = 0.89)
  • Excellent correlation between fast gait speed and TUG (ICC = -0.91), CGS (ICC = 0.88), SCas (ICC = -0.84), SCde (ICC = -0.87) and 6MWT (ICC = 0.95) [14]

Responsiveness[edit | edit source]

Geriatrics:

  • Small meaningful change = 0.05 m/s
  • Substantial meaningful change = 0.10 m/s [23]


SCI (Spinal cord injury):

  • Smallest real difference = 0.13 m/s
  • Mean change between 1 and 3 months post-injury, effect size = 0.92
  • Mean change between 3 and 6 months post-injury, effect size = 0.47 [12]


Stroke:

  • Small meaningful change = 0.05 m/s
  • Substantial meaningful change = 0.10 m/s [23]

Links[edit | edit source]

10-Metre Walk Test

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. Core Set of Outcome Measures for Adults with Neurologic Conditions. [Accessed 6 May 2022]
  2. ↑ Academy of Neurological Physical Therapy. Core Measure: 10 Meter Walk Test. [Accessed 6 May 2022]
  3. ↑ iWalk Guide Online Resources 14. Quick Look-Up Sheet: Reference Values for 10mWT & 6MWT © University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada 1 Quick Look-Up Sheet: Reference Values for 10-metre Walk Test and 6-Minute Walk Test Available from:https://www.physicaltherapy.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/14_Quick-Look-Up-Sheet-Reference-Values-for-10mWT-6MWT-FINAL-.pdf (last accessed 5.2.2020)
  4. ↑ wikiHow How to Measure Your Gait Speed Available from:https://www.wikihow.fitness/Measure-Your-Gait-Speed (last accessed 5.2.2020)
  5. ↑ Mission Gait - 10 Meter Walk Test - Setup and Instruction. Available from: https://youtu.be/jKZcQM5PGq8 [last accessed 6 May 2022]
  6. ↑ 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
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Watson, M. J. "Refining the ten-metre walking test for use with neurologically impaired people." Physiotherapy 2002 88(7): 386-397
  8. ↑ 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
  9. ↑ 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
  10. ↑ 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
  11. ↑ 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
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 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
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Collen, F., Wade, D., et al. "Mobility after stroke: reliability of measures of impairment and disability." Disability and Rehabilitation 1990 12(1): 6-9
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 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
  15. ↑ 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
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Wolf, S. L., Catlin, P. A., et al. "Establishing the reliability and validity of measurements of walking time using the Emory Functional Ambulation Profile." Phys There 1999 79(12): 1122-1133
  17. ↑ van Hedel, H. J., Wirz, M., et al. "Assessing walking ability in subjects with spinal cord injury: validity and reliability of 3 walking tests." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2005 86(2): 190-196
  18. ↑ Scivoletto, G., Tamburella, F., et al. "Validity and reliability of the 10-m walk test and the 6-min walk test in spinal cord injury patients." Spinal Cord 2011 49(6): 736-740.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Tyson, S. and Connell, L. "The psychometric properties and clinical utility of measures of walking and mobility in neurological conditions: a systematic review." Clin Rehabil 2009 23(11): 1018-1033
  20. ↑ Paltamaa, J., Sarasoja, T., et al. "Measures of physical functioning predict self-reported performance in self-care, mobility, and domestic life in ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis." Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 2007 88(12): 1649-1657
  21. ↑ Latham, N., Mehta, V., et al. "Performance-based or self-report measures of physical function: which should be used in clinical trials of hip fracture patients?" Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 2008 89(11): 2146-2155
  22. ↑ van Hedel, H. J., Wirz, M., et al. "Assessing walking ability in subjects with spinal cord injury: validity and reliability of 3 walking tests." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2005 86(2): 190-196
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Perera, S., Mody, S., et al. "Meaningful change and responsiveness in common physical performance measures in older adults." Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2006 54(5): 743-749


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