Predicting home and community walking activity in people with stroke

Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Oct;91(10):1582-6. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.07.005.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the ability of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and other commonly used clinical outcome measures to predict home and community walking activity in high-functioning people with stroke.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Outpatient physical therapy clinic.

Participants: Participants (N=32) with chronic stroke (n=19; >6mo poststroke) with self-selected gait speed (GS) faster than .40m/s and age-matched healthy participants (n=13).

Interventions: Not applicable.

Independent variables: 6MWT, self-selected GS, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), lower extremity motor section of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and Stroke Impact Scale. Dependent variable: average steps taken per day during a 7-day period, measured using an accelerometer.

Results: 6MWT, self-selected GS, and BBS were moderately related to home and community walking activity. The 6MWT was the only predictor of average steps taken per day; it explained 46% of the variance in steps per day.

Conclusions: The 6MWT is a useful outcome measure in higher functioning people with stroke to guide intervention and assess community walking activity.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise Test*
  • Gait*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stroke Rehabilitation*
  • Walking