Walking Speed Indoors and Outdoors in Healthy Persons and in Persons With Late Effects of Polio

Abstract

Background: Walking speed tests are common means to screen physical ability and are usually performed in an institutional setting. Little additional information is normally given about the environmental circumstances. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different environments on walking speed. The design is an observational study.

Method: Two groups (health controls and persons with late effects of polio) were studied, 30 meter walking test in convenient and maximal speed has been performed in 3 different environments.

Results: Both groups walked faster outdoors when compared with the indoor settings and the test order did not significantly influence this.

Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate that the traditional walking speed tests performed indoors may not be an optimal predictor of the walking speed outdoors. The Clinical Rehabilitation Impact is in rehabilitation.




J Neurol Res. 2013;3(2):62-67
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jnr187w