Key result
Gait speed, heart rate changes, and physiological cost index measurements showed good repeatability across 9 separate 100-foot walk tests, with gait speed correlations of 0.91-0.95.
Why the study?
Do short walk tests provide repeatable measurements of gait speed and physiological cost index in working adults?
Observational (n=61)
No
Do short walk tests provide repeatable measurements of gait speed and physiological cost index in working adults?
Gait speed and physiological cost index measurements demonstrate good repeatability over short walks, offering a rapid method for assessing functional status.
Supports reliability of short-walk metrics in working adults; leaves open predictive value and clinical adoption pending prospective data.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the performance characteristics of gait speed measurements and the physiological cost index (PCI; heart rate change/gait speed) in working adults. METHODS: Gait speeds, heart rate changes, and non-steady state PCIs were calculated in 61 volunteers who worked in our health sciences center. These subjects completed 9 separate 100-foot walk tests in 3 separate sessions. RESULTS: The mean heart rate change after a 100-foot walk was 16.6 ± 8.1 beats per minute. The mean gait speed was 76.1 ± 9.6 meters per minute, and the mean PCI was 0.22 ± 0.11 beats per meter. There were highly significant correlations among all measurements on the 9 separate tests (correlation coefficients 0.41-0.95); gait speed measurements had the highest correlations (0.91-0.95). In a multivariable model hypertension and arthritis were associated with reduced gait speeds. CONCLUSION: Gait speed, heart rate changes, and non-steady state PCIs have good repeatability when measured over short walks. This information provides a rapid physiological assessment and a method for measuring changes in functional status in healthy subjects and most patients.
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Raj et al. (2013) conducted an observational in Working adults (n=61). 100-foot walk test was evaluated on Repeatability of gait speed, heart rate changes, and physiological cost index. Gait speed, heart rate changes, and physiological cost index measurements showed good repeatability across 9 separate 100-foot walk tests, with gait speed correlations of 0.91-0.95.
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