Saale B1, Flickinger E1, Jones M1, McInnis A1, Roddy N1
1University of South Alabama, Physical Therapy, Mobile, United States
Background: Gait speed has been identified as an important indicator of fall risk, functional limitations, and risk of hospitalization. It has also been shown to be a key factor in determining rehabilitation needs. The 4-meter-walk-test (4MWT) is an inexpensive and easily reproducible measure for walking speed, but calculating and interpreting walking speed is one barrier to utilization of this outcome measure in the clinic. The 4MWT iOS app automatically calculates walking speeds, compares data to normative data, and assists with interpretation of gait speed as measured in the clinic.
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to establish the 4MWT iOS app as a valid tool for determining walking speed.
Methods: Participants included 101 subjects aged 22-92 years old. Subjects included 31 males and 70 females that were able to walk at least 5 meters. They were recruited from senior centers in Baldwin and Mobile County Alabama and from students at the University of South Alabama. The NIH toolbox protocol was used for performance of the 4MWT. Gait speed was measured using a manual stopwatch (SW), the Hudl application for video analysis, and the 4MWT iOS App. Once the trial was completed, the times for the stop watch, Hudl, and iOS app were recorded and compared. The Hudl video app allows the researcher to view each 4MWT performance in frame by frame and obtain timing of the test to 0.01 seconds. The stopwatch, the accepted gold standard, and the hudl application were used to validate the iOS app in measuring gait speed during the 4MWT.
Results: The difference between the Hudl mean and iOS app was -0.02 m/s with a 95% CI of -0.01m/s to -0.03m/s. The difference between the Hudl mean and the stopwatch was .02 m/s with a 95% CI of 0.03 m/s to 0.01m/s. The difference between the stopwatch mean and the iOS app was -0.04 m/s with a 95% of -0.03 m/s to - 0.05 m/s.
Conclusion(s): Our results suggest the iOS app is a valid measure in determining gait speed during the 4 MWT. The iOS app results, when compared with Hudl and the manual SW, fell within the 0.1 m/s minimal detectable change of gait speed. The stopwatch is the currently accepted gold standard. Further research is needed to determine whether the Hudl application might be more accurate than the manual stopwatch since human reaction times are eliminated.
Implications: Given the results of our study, the 4MWT iOS app appears to be a valid measure when performing 4MWT for determination of walking speed in a clinical setting.
Keywords: Gait speed, Validity, Outcome measures
Funding acknowledgements: N/A
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to establish the 4MWT iOS app as a valid tool for determining walking speed.
Methods: Participants included 101 subjects aged 22-92 years old. Subjects included 31 males and 70 females that were able to walk at least 5 meters. They were recruited from senior centers in Baldwin and Mobile County Alabama and from students at the University of South Alabama. The NIH toolbox protocol was used for performance of the 4MWT. Gait speed was measured using a manual stopwatch (SW), the Hudl application for video analysis, and the 4MWT iOS App. Once the trial was completed, the times for the stop watch, Hudl, and iOS app were recorded and compared. The Hudl video app allows the researcher to view each 4MWT performance in frame by frame and obtain timing of the test to 0.01 seconds. The stopwatch, the accepted gold standard, and the hudl application were used to validate the iOS app in measuring gait speed during the 4MWT.
Results: The difference between the Hudl mean and iOS app was -0.02 m/s with a 95% CI of -0.01m/s to -0.03m/s. The difference between the Hudl mean and the stopwatch was .02 m/s with a 95% CI of 0.03 m/s to 0.01m/s. The difference between the stopwatch mean and the iOS app was -0.04 m/s with a 95% of -0.03 m/s to - 0.05 m/s.
Conclusion(s): Our results suggest the iOS app is a valid measure in determining gait speed during the 4 MWT. The iOS app results, when compared with Hudl and the manual SW, fell within the 0.1 m/s minimal detectable change of gait speed. The stopwatch is the currently accepted gold standard. Further research is needed to determine whether the Hudl application might be more accurate than the manual stopwatch since human reaction times are eliminated.
Implications: Given the results of our study, the 4MWT iOS app appears to be a valid measure when performing 4MWT for determination of walking speed in a clinical setting.
Keywords: Gait speed, Validity, Outcome measures
Funding acknowledgements: N/A
Topic: Outcome measurement; Information management, technology & big data
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of South Alabama
Ethics committee: Institutional Review Board
Ethics number: IRB approval number: 1127772-2
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
