Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Assess the test-re-test reliability of walking speed, step length and step width measurement in people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). RESEARCH DESIGN: Repeated measures (two test occasions). METHODS: Thirteen people with TBI completed four comfortable and four fast-paced walking trials of the 10 m walk test and two trials of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Walking speed, step length and step width were measured during the 10 m walk test and walking distance and average speed were measured during the 6MWT. The tests were repeated 1-week later. MAIN RESULTS: Walking speed and distance showed excellent test-re-test reliability, with an intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.95-0.96. Reliability was also high for step length and width measurement (ICC 0.91-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: This test-re-test reliability means that walking speed and distance and step length and width can be used by physiotherapists to monitor improvements in walking after TBI.
Loo et al. (2004) studied this question.