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Functional ambulation categories (0-5) were recorded on 105 patients on the first and last days of a day hospital physiotherapy programme. Walking speed was measured in patients capable of walking without physical support from another person (functional ambulation categories 3-5). Patients attended for a median of 10 therapy days. Ambulation categories improved in 26 patients, deteriorated in three patients and there was no change in 76 patients. Mean walking speed, measured in 61 patients who did not change walking aid, increased from 0.38 to 0.44 metres per second (p = 0.003). Forty-three patients who did not show improvement in functional ambulation category had an increase in mean walking speed from 0.37 to 0.43 metres per second (p = 0.015). Both measurements are valuable, complementary and suitable for routine use in day hospital practice. Together they provide a basis for assess ing effectiveness of therapy.
Martin et al. (Thu,) studied this question.