This study was supported by Claude Pepper Older Americans Independence Center National Institutes of Health—National Institute on Aging Grant P30AG021332-01.
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Reliability of the 400-M Usual-Pace Walk Test as an Assessment of Mobility Limitation in Older Adults
Article first published online: 24 MAY 2004
DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52267.x
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How to Cite
Rolland, Y. M., Cesari, M., Miller, M. E., Penninx, B. W., Atkinson, H. H. and Pahor, M. (2004), Reliability of the 400-M Usual-Pace Walk Test as an Assessment of Mobility Limitation in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 52: 972–976. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2004.52267.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 MAY 2004
- Article first published online: 24 MAY 2004
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- disability;
- reliability;
- walk test;
- speed
Objectives: To assess the test-retest reliability of the 400-m usual-pace walk test (400-MWT), and to determine whether the 4-m walk test predicts inability to walk 400 m.
Design: Observational.
Setting: Community, 20-m tract course.
Participants: Sixty study participants (aged≥65) were enrolled from the community and met the following eligibility criteria: self-reported difficulty in two or more of four functional domains (mobility and exercise tolerance, upper extremity function, basic self-care, higher functional tasks of independent living) and a score of 18 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination.
Methods: The 400-MWT and 4-m walk test were each repeated within 7 days.
Results: The mean age±standard deviation of the study population was 84.3±6.3; 88.3% were women. Nineteen participants (31.7%) failed both 400-MWTs, and 41 successfully completed both tests (kappa=1). Mean walking speed for the 4-m test was 0.87±0.18 m/s for those who completed the 400-MWT and 0.53±0.17 m/s for those who failed (P<.001). The Spearman correlation coefficient between 4-m and 400-m walking speeds was 0.93. The estimated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve between 4-m walking speed and the ability to perform the 400-MWT was 0.91. The 4-m gait speed averaged less than 0.6 m/s in 80% of subjects who failed the 400-MWT.
Conclusion: The test-retest reliability for inability to complete the 400-MWT is high. Four-m walking speed is highly predictive of ability to perform the 400-MWT. These findings may prove useful to future clinical trials and observational studies that involve assessment of mobility limitations in older adults.