Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of course length and corridor width on 2-minute
walk test results in older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and experimental study
with different test conditions. SETTING: Geriatric rehabilitation clinic.
SUBJECTS: A total of 21 patients (median age 81 years).
MAIN MEASURES: Patients
walked two minutes on a 20 m and 40 m course with a 2 m or 1 m corridor width and
on a continuous course without any turning in a corridor of 2 m width, five walks
in total. The distance traveled within the 2 minutes was recorded. RESULTS:
Compared with the 20 m course length, median walking distances measured by the
2-minute walk test in a walk way 2 m broad were better on the continuous corridor
without any turn (136.9 m vs. 129.3 m, p = 0.002) and on the 40 m course (131.8 m
vs. 129.3 m, p = 0.003). Walking distance on a 20 m course length was longer in a
corridor of 2 m width compared with the 1 m corridor width (129.3 m vs. 119.2 m,
p = 0.005). The walking distance was not affected by corridor width on the 40 m
course length. CONCLUSIONS: Performance of elderly patients on the 2-minute walk
test is influenced by the width of the corridor and the length of the course used.

Langue : ANGLAIS