What is 10 Meter Walk Test ?
The 10-meter walk test is helpful because it can pick up on gradual improvements or declines in walking speed as well as endurance over time. This is crucial for monitoring the results of programs that aim to increase mobility, lessen the likelihood of falls, and better people’s quality of life. The test’s standardized walking performance measurement helps doctors evaluate a patient’s development and decide whether or not to proceed with therapy.
The steps for doing this test are as follows:
- The person walks on their own for 10 meters, with the intermediate 6 meters being recorded to account for acceleration as well as deceleration.
- Assistive devices are frequently used, but consistency and documentation for each test must be maintained.
- When the toes reach a 2-meter distance, begin timing.
- When the toes reach the 8-meter mark, stop timing.
- It is acceptable to test at either the maximum walking speed or the desired walking speed (be sure to record which was tested).
- Take the average of the three trials after doing three trials.
10-Meter Walk Test Normal Values
The 10-Meter Walk Test’s normal values can change depending on variables including age and gender. The walking speed of old individuals is less than that of younger individuals. Normal values are frequently reported in the form of a range of walking speeds measured in m/s (meters per second) or in the form of the amount of time it requires to walk 10 meters measured in seconds.
However, it is critical to take into account individual traits as well as functional skills while interpreting test results. This test measures a person’s walking speed in meters per second over a smaller distance. This test is useful to evaluate vestibular function, functional mobility, and gait.
A person’s 10-meter walking speed is tested in this physical endurance test. It is a trustworthy and valid method that is often used in clinical settings, particularly in the elderly or those with medical conditions that can limit their walking skills. The 10-meter walk test detects slight walking speed changes over time.
10-Meter Walk Test Scoring & Interpretation
The 10-meter walk test (10MWT) is commonly used and recommended to evaluate walking speed in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This test can detect changes in gait speed caused by therapeutic interventions, and its measuring features are widely appreciated. The risk of future falls in PD is linked to a comfortable gait speed of less than 1.1 meters per second (m/s). There are multiple standardizations for the 10MWT, such as measuring over 10 or 6 m and including or excluding an acceleration distance (dynamic vs. static start).
The 10-meter walk test has shown high reliability in a wide range of populations and medical settings. These include healthy individuals, hip fractures, children with neuromuscular disease, spinal cord damage, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. A patient’s 10mWT score is interpreted in the context of a comprehensive examination, using cut-off scores and normative values. When assessing patients with moderate Parkinson’s disease using the 10MWT, it is not necessary to include an acceleration distance or to perform repeated trials because the results of the various standardizations of this test are quite similar to one another.