@article{ref1,
title="Reliability of walking speed in basic and complex conditions in healthy, older community-dwelling individuals",
journal="Aging clinical and experimental research",
year="2020",
author="Forte, Roberta and De Vito, Giuseppe and Boreham, Colin A. G.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of reliability data for walking speed tests in complex conditions to assess functioning in healthy older individuals. AIMS: To evaluate the absolute intra- and intertest reliability of walking speed performed in basic and complex conditions in healthy older individuals. <br><br>METHODS: Fifty-two men and women of mean age 69.7 ± 3.2 years were tested for habitual and maximal walking speed. Maximal speed was also assessed under different conditions, including walking on a path of reduced width; picking up objects; stepping over hurdles; stepping over hurdles wearing sunglasses and finally, carrying a box. Two testing sessions (separated by 4 weeks) of two trials each were administered. Reliability was analysed by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), minimal detectable change (MDC) and Bland-Altman plots with limits of agreement (LOA). <br><br>RESULTS: Intrasession ICCs ranged from good to excellent (0.89-0.95) except for picking up objects (0.44). Intersession ICCs were moderate to good (0.60-0.78) and %MDCs were acceptable (14-24%). Bland-Altman plots suggested a good agreement between the two testing sessions at group level (mean differences from - 0.02 to - 0.11 m/s), and limited agreement between testing sessions at individual level (upper LOA from 0.13 to 0.37 m/s and lower LOA from - 0.29 to - 0.49 m/s). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Complex walking speed tests are generally reliable measures displaying good and moderate intra- and inter-session reliability. Such tests seem a more suitable functional assessment tool for heathy older subjects compared with simple walking. Some learning effect may be present and further reliability studies are needed.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1594-0667",
doi="10.1007/s40520-020-01543-x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01543-x"
}