ArticlesReliability of the two-minute walk test in individuals with transtibial amputation☆,☆☆
Section snippets
Methods
The methods for the present study were based on the study by Connelly7 who examined the reliability of the 2MWT in the frail elderly. Our participants were physical therapists and clients from 2 regional amputee rehabilitation programs in the province of Ontario. Ethics approval was obtained from the research ethics boards of the University of Toronto and the 2 centers involved. At each site, reliability was evaluated by using the test-retest method with 2 physical therapists. Each subject
Results
The characteristics of the subjects in the total sample and in the inpatient and outpatient subgroups are in table 1.Empty Cell Outpatients Inpatients All N 6 27 33 Age (y) 55.3±4.4 (44–69) 65.4±2.1 (42–80) 63.6±2.0 (42–80) No. of prior walk tests 7.0±1.5 (1–10) 1.5±0.2 (1–6) 2.6±0.5 (1–10) Days since prosthesis fitted 105.2±53.0 (28–365) 30.7±9.4 (7–270) 44.2±12.8 (7–365) Days of rehabilitation 134.0±46.7 (56–365) 31.5±3.5 (8–90) 50.2±10.9 (8–365) Days since
Discussion
The 2MWT exhibits good within- and between-rater reliability in individuals with transtibial amputation. However, the distance walked in 2 minutes was not constant over time, but increased over the 2 days in individuals undergoing either out- or inpatient rehabilitation.
Reliability is a fundamental measurement property that is relatively easy to determine. It is quantified in terms of degree of consistency and repeatability when properly administered under similar circumstances. Clinically,
Conclusion
The 2MWT is practical, simple, quick, and easy to administer. In the present prospective study, we found evidence of good inter- and intrarater reliability of the 2MWT in for the population of persons with unilateral below-knee amputation. However, the distance walked in 2 minutes was not constant, and it improved over time. The improvement was not solely the result of a training and learning effect and does not appear to plateau with repetition. The explanation for the improved performance
Acknowledgements
We thank Janet Campbell, Debbie Albuquerque, Ian Lowe, Maria Laskowski, and Rosalie Chan for their assistance with data collection.
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No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the author(s) or upon any organization with which the author(s) is/are associated.
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Reprint requests to Dina Brooks, PhD, Clinical Evaluation and Research Unit, West Park Healthcare Centre, 82 Buttonwood Ave, Toronto, Ont M6M 2J5, Canada, e-mail: [email protected].