• Assesses short duration walking speed (m/sec).  It has been used in various patient populations including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, general neurologic movement disorders and SCI (van Hedel et al. 2005; 2006).

Number of items: N/a

Procedure/Administration: The 10 MWT measures the time required to walk 10 meters. It is performed using a “flying start”: the patient walks 14 meters and the time is measured for the intermediate 10 meters. The individual walks at their preferred walking speed. Individuals can use an assistive device and must wear shoes. 

How scored: The time (seconds) is reported and can also calculate a walking speed m/sec.

Interpretability: Results of the 10 MWT have been reported in the literature for individuals with incomplete SCI.  An average time of 30 seconds with a walking speed of 4.5 km h^-1 (1.25 m s^-1) has been reported.  Normative values are approximately 4.7 km h^-1 [1.31 m s^-1]). 

Acceptability: Is suitable for individuals who can, at a minimum, ambulate in household settings (i.e. > 14 m).

Languages: N/a

Usability: N/a

Time to administer: Approx 30 seconds.

Time to score: N/a

Training required: Does not require advanced training.

Availability: N/a

Equipment required: Can be administered in the clinical setting or in the community. A 14m corridor and a stopwatch are required.

Summary:

• The 10 MWT only assesses walking ability and does not consider the amount of physical assistance required, devices or endurance. 
• The test is conducted in a controlled environment (i.e. lab or hospital setting), so results can not be directly translated to the environment (i.e. crossing a busy street).  The 10 MWT also requires an individual to ambulate a minimum of 14 m.  There have been reports in the literature that the distance is not always standardized (i.e. 10 m versus 14 m).
• It appears to be a useful measure in the SCI population for both research and clinical practice.  The scale properties (time in sec or m/sec) of the 10 MWT make it a responsive test well suited to evaluating clinical interventions.

Psychometric Summary:

Note: TR= Test re-test; IC= Internal Consistency; Inter-O= Inter-observer; Intra-O= Intra-observer; varied (re. floor/ceiling effects; mixed results); SS= Sensitivity/Specificity; N/a= No information

Red light= A single study involving SCI subjects which has less than adequate findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Yellow light= A single study involving subjects with SCI which has adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

Green light= At least 2 studies involving subjects with SCI which have adequate to excellent findings of reliability, validity, and/or responsiveness.

*Responsiveness assessed using the Freidman’s test.

** For construct validity, the results with other walking tests (i.e. TUG & 6 MWT) were considered stronger evidence to support validity compared to LEMS based on ASIA.

References 

• van Hedel HJA, Dietz V, and the EM-SCI Study Group. Walking during daily life can be validly and responsively assessed in subjects with a spinal cord injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2009; 23: 117-124.
• van Hedel HJA for the EMSCI Study Group. Gait speed in relation to categories of functional ambulation after spinal cord injury. Neural Repair 2009; 23(4): 343-350.
• van Hedel HJA, Wirz M, Dietz V. Standardized assessment of walking capacity after spinal cord injury: the European network approach. Neurological Research 2008; 30: 61-73.
• van Hedel HJA, Wirz M, Curt A. Improving walking assessment in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury: responsiveness. Spinal Cord 2006;44:352-356.
• van Hedel HJA  Wirz M, Dietz V. Assessing walking ability in subjects with spinal cord injury:validity and reliability of 3 walking tests. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:190-196.