Validity of the Figure-of-8 Walk Test in Community Dwelling Older Adults
Megan Holm, SPT; Stephanie Poelker, SPT; Allison Ranieri, SPT; Thomas Reuther, SPT; Jay Stanton, SPT
Faculty Mentor: Jean Hiebert, PT, PhD
Purpose: The Figure-of-8 Walk Test (F8WT) is designed to assess the ability of a subject to walk both a linear and curved path, a task requiring both physical and motor planning components. Hess et al. (Physical Therapy, 2010) concluded the test was valid in older adults, with and without disabilities. However, the authors indicated further research was needed on this test. The purpose of this study was to continue to compare the F8WT to commonly utilized tests of physical and executive function, including the 10-Meter Walk Test, Short Physical Performance Battery Test, and Trail Making Tests, Parts A and B.
Method: Seventy eight community dwelling older adults (68 + 1 year of age) participated in this study. Subjects must have been categorized as having no more than mild neurocognitive impairment on the St. Louis University Mental Status Exam. Subjects were excluded if they underwent a recent surgery within the last 3 months or had a primary language other than English. Subjects randomly performed the F8WT, 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT, fast and slow speeds), Short Physical Performance Battery Test (SPPB), and Trail Making Test (TMT, parts A and B). The number of steps and time to complete the F8WT was compared to gait speed times and scores on the SPPB and TMT.
Results: A Pearson Correlation analysis found significant, moderate correlation between the Figure-of-8 time and 10MWT (slow .482 and fast .410), TMT-Part A (.456), SBBP (-.677), and Figure-of-8 steps (.921). A significant, moderate correlation was also found between the Figure-of-8 steps and 10MWT (slow .611 and fast .410), TMT- Part A (.478), SBBP (-.741), and Figure-of-8 time (.000). No significant correlation was found between Figure-of-8 and TMT-Part B.
Discussion: This study supports the findings by Hess et al. which determined the Figure-of-8 Walk Test is correlated to commonly utilized functional and cognitive measures. The tests performed in this study are currently used in physical therapy practice to assess both physical and executive function. The F8WT utilizes both of these aspects needed for ambulation, as well as examining non-linear gait. The Figure-of-8 Walk Test, compared to other currently used ambulation tests, allows therapists to look at more variables in a decreased amount of time with accurate results.
Conclusion: The F8WT is a valid measure of walking ability in community dwelling older adults when compared to the 10-Meter Walk Test, Trail Making Test-Part A, and Short Physical Performance Battery Test.
Faculty Mentor: Jean Hiebert, PT, PhD
Purpose: The Figure-of-8 Walk Test (F8WT) is designed to assess the ability of a subject to walk both a linear and curved path, a task requiring both physical and motor planning components. Hess et al. (Physical Therapy, 2010) concluded the test was valid in older adults, with and without disabilities. However, the authors indicated further research was needed on this test. The purpose of this study was to continue to compare the F8WT to commonly utilized tests of physical and executive function, including the 10-Meter Walk Test, Short Physical Performance Battery Test, and Trail Making Tests, Parts A and B.
Method: Seventy eight community dwelling older adults (68 + 1 year of age) participated in this study. Subjects must have been categorized as having no more than mild neurocognitive impairment on the St. Louis University Mental Status Exam. Subjects were excluded if they underwent a recent surgery within the last 3 months or had a primary language other than English. Subjects randomly performed the F8WT, 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT, fast and slow speeds), Short Physical Performance Battery Test (SPPB), and Trail Making Test (TMT, parts A and B). The number of steps and time to complete the F8WT was compared to gait speed times and scores on the SPPB and TMT.
Results: A Pearson Correlation analysis found significant, moderate correlation between the Figure-of-8 time and 10MWT (slow .482 and fast .410), TMT-Part A (.456), SBBP (-.677), and Figure-of-8 steps (.921). A significant, moderate correlation was also found between the Figure-of-8 steps and 10MWT (slow .611 and fast .410), TMT- Part A (.478), SBBP (-.741), and Figure-of-8 time (.000). No significant correlation was found between Figure-of-8 and TMT-Part B.
Discussion: This study supports the findings by Hess et al. which determined the Figure-of-8 Walk Test is correlated to commonly utilized functional and cognitive measures. The tests performed in this study are currently used in physical therapy practice to assess both physical and executive function. The F8WT utilizes both of these aspects needed for ambulation, as well as examining non-linear gait. The Figure-of-8 Walk Test, compared to other currently used ambulation tests, allows therapists to look at more variables in a decreased amount of time with accurate results.
Conclusion: The F8WT is a valid measure of walking ability in community dwelling older adults when compared to the 10-Meter Walk Test, Trail Making Test-Part A, and Short Physical Performance Battery Test.