This study aims to analyze the differences in walking speeds among four distinct groups of walking performance based on the ability of community involvement including household ambulators, outside-home ambulators, limited community ambulators, and full community ambulators, utilizing the 10-meter walk test (10MWT) as an assessment tool.
Individuals with walking impairments from a developing country (n=136) were recruited for the study. Most of the participants had neurological deficits (n=100), primarily due to spinal cord injuries and stroke. Each participant were cross-sectionally interviewed and assessed for their demographics and walking performance, representing the four identified groups based on their walking performance. Then they were assessed for their walking speeds both prefered walking speed and fastest walking speed using the 10MWT test. The data were analyzed using statistical methods, including the Kruskal-Wallis test and post-hoc tests, to identify significant differences in walking speeds among the groups.
The results found significant differences between the preferred walking speed and fastest walking speed across all groups (p0.001). Specifically, full community ambulators exhibited the highest speeds, while household ambulators demonstrated the lowest speeds. Post-hoc comparisons further highlighted significant differences in walking speeds among all pairs of groups, except for the comparison between household ambulators and outside-home ambulators (p=0.152), which did not show a statistically significant difference. This suggests that there is a clear distinction in walking performance based on the ability of community involvement.
This study demonstrates significant differences between preferred walking speed and fastest walking speed among individuals with mobility limitations. The findings indicate that full community ambulators exhibit notably higher walking speeds compared to household ambulators, highlighting the influence of community involvement on mobility performance. These results underscore the importance of assessing both walking speeds in clinical practice, as they provide valuable insights into the functional capacity and potential of individuals. Ultimately, understanding these differences can inform targeted interventions aimed at enhancing mobility and participation in community for those with mobility impairments.
With the need for a standardized practical measure for early screening and monitoring of functional alterations over time, the differences between walking speeds may be clinically utilized as an outcome to reflect both the hidden capabilities and community participation of individuals with mobility limitations, particularly in developing countries.
Fastest speed
10MWT
