Assessing walking ability in subjects with spinal cord injury: Validity and reliability of 3 walking tests

Hedel, Hubertus J. A. van; Wirz, Markus; Dietz, Volker

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2004.02.010

Cited by 409 publications

(344 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Apart from standard walking, the TUGT also incorporates functional elements of sit-to-stand and balance control. 17 Van Hedel et al 16,18 suggest that the 6MinWT is one of the best thorough investigations that the results correlate with other walking ability tests, that is, the walking index for SCI II and the 10-m walk test. Results of the test also associate with strength of the hip flexors and abductor muscles, which are the key determinants for walking ability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 6MinWT measured the longest distance walk in 6 min along a smooth rectangular walkway in order to minimize the effects of turning on the outcomes. [16][17][18] Results of the test were also used to confirm baseline walking ability (FIM-L scores). In order to minimize the effects of routine treatments on the outcomes, inpatient subjects needed to complete the study within 2-3 days after admission.…”

Section: Protocols Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Falls in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury: incidence, associated factors and levels of ability

2012

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Study Design: A 6-month retrospective study. Objectives: To investigate incidence and factors associated with falls in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to compare levels of ability in those with and without a history of falls. Setting: A tertiary rehabilitation center and community hospitals. Methods:Seventy-seven independent ambulatory subjects with SCI were interviewed for fall data during 6 months before participation in the study. Subjects were also assessed for their functional ability using the timed up and go test (TUGT) and the 6-min walk test (6MinWT). Results: Twenty-six subjects (34%) reported falls during 6 months (range 1-6 times). After falls, two subjects required medical attention due to wrist joint fracture and back pain. Walking without a walking device significantly increased the risk of fall, whereas using a walker significantly reduced the risk of fall (Po0.05). Moreover, faller subjects showed significantly better levels of ability than the non-faller subjects (Po0.005 for the TUGT and Po0.05 for the 6MinWT).Conclusion: Approximately one-third of the independent ambulatory subjects with SCI experienced falls. Notably, faller subjects had better functional ability than the non-faller subjects. Thus, apart from emphasizing the ability to walk independently, rehabilitation professionals may need to seek strategies that improve balance and safety.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Protocols Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Falls in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury: incidence, associated factors and levels of ability

2012

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“…6 MWT and 10 MWT, developed for the study of gait speed and endurance, have been recently validated. 10 It is estimated that 95% of ASIA D patients will be community ambulating at two years from the injury. 1,3,12 To be considered as a community ambulator, a patient should be able to use his gait as his primary means of mobility (Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This test is useful in assessing cardiovascular exercise capacity in elderly patients with congestive heart failure or chronic lung disease and walking ability in patients with acquired brain injury. 10,11 Validity and reproducibility of these timed tests on patients with SCI has been well documented by van Hedel et al 11 The Experimental environment gymnasium consists of a 53 m straight hallway with a single 90 1 direction change. The natural environment consisted of a public walkway in a local community.…”

Section: Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The Timed Ten-Meter Walking Test (10 MWT) and the SixMinutes Walking Test (6MWT) 10 were performed on the two selected environmental conditions: (1) Experimental (indoors Gymnasium) and (2) Natural (community setting). 10 MWT measures the time (in seconds) that it takes a patients to walk 10 m; it assesses the short-duration walking speed.…”

Section: Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of gait performance on different environmental settings for patients with chronic spinal cord injury

et al. 2007

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Study design: Observational cross-section study. Objectives: The objective of our study was to determine if the influence of a community environment would impact on ASIA D spinal cord injured (SCI) gait performance patients. Our main hypothesis is that an outdoor community environment may influence gait speed and endurance on community ambulating patients. Methods: Ten-Meter Walking (10MWT) and Six-Minute Walking (6MWT) tests were performed on community ambulating SCI research participants (n ¼ 18) in two different environmental conditions: (1) Experimental (indoors Gymnasium) and (2) Natural (community setting). Average gait speed and endurance values were obtained for the two different conditions and analyzed for statistical significance on the nonparametric two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: While no difference was observed on the 10MWT we found an improvement on gait performance on the 6 MWT on a community setting. Conclusions: Our study showed mixed results on environmental influence on gait speed and endurance on ASIA D patient population. While there is no difference on the 10 MWT, there is an improvement on gait performance on the communitary 6MWT.

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Plasma NfL and GFAP as biomarkers of spinal cord degeneration in adrenoleukodystrophy

Ballegoij

Stadt

Huffnagel

et al. 2020

Ann Clin Transl Neurol

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Objective: To explore the potential of neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as biomarkers of spinal cord degeneration in adrenoleukodystrophy, as objective treatment-outcome parameters are needed. Methods: Plasma NfL and GFAP levels were measured in 45 male and 47 female ALD patients and compared to a reference cohort of 73 healthy controls. For male patients, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (n = 33) and 1-year (n = 39) and 2-year (n = 18) follow-up data were also collected. Severity of myelopathy was assessed with clinical parameters: Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Severity Scoring system for Progressive Myelopathy (SSPROM), and timed up-and-go. Results: NfL and GFAP levels were higher in male (P < 0.001, effect size (partial ƞ 2) NfL = 0.49, GFAP = 0.13) and female (P < 0.001, effect size NfL = 0.19, GFAP = 0.23) patients compared to controls; levels were higher in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. In male patients, NfL levels were associated with all three clinical parameters of severity of myelopathy (EDSS, SSPROM, and timed up-and go), while GFAP in male and NfL and GFAP in female patients were not. Changes in clinical parameters during follow-up did not correlate with (changes in) NfL or GFAP levels. Plasma and CSF NfL were strongly correlated (r = 0.60, P < 0.001), but plasma and CSF GFAP were not (r = 0.005, P = 0.98). Interpretation: Our study illustrates the potential of plasma NfL as biomarker of spinal cord degeneration in adrenoleukodystrophy, which was superior to plasma GFAP in our cohort.

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Assessing walking ability in subjects with spinal cord injury: Validity and reliability of 3 walking tests

Cited by 409 publications

References 19 publications

Falls in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury: incidence, associated factors and levels of ability

Falls in independent ambulatory patients with spinal cord injury: incidence, associated factors and levels of ability

Comparison of gait performance on different environmental settings for patients with chronic spinal cord injury

Plasma NfL and GFAP as biomarkers of spinal cord degeneration in adrenoleukodystrophy

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