Walking Ability Outcome Measures in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to review and analyze the psychometric properties of various walking ability outcome measures in spinal cord injury (SCI) to guide clinicians in selecting appropriate metrics.
Results Summary
The study identified multiple walking assessment tools used in SCI, with the Walking Index for SCI, 10-meter walk test, and six-minute walk test being the most frequently studied. The authors recommend a combination of outcome measures for comprehensive walking ability assessment and highlight the need for more realistic environments in future evaluations.
Population
Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
Effective Dosage
Not available
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
walking index for SCI | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #1 |
10 meter walk test | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #2 |
six-minute walk test | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #3 |
timed Up and go test | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #4 |
Berg balance scale | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #5 |
gait profile score | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #6 |
spinal cord injury functional ambulation profile | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #7 |
five times sit-to-stand test | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #8 |
spinal cord injury functional ambulation inventory | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #9 |
spinal cord independence measure (indoors and outdoors mobility items) | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #10 |
locomotor stages in spinal cord injury | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #11 |
community balance and mobility scale | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #12 |
activity-based balance level evaluation scale | neutral | walking ability | spinal cord injury | - | studied | #13 |
Walking function recovery in spinal cord injury (SCI) is tackled through several therapeutic approaches in which precise evaluation is essential. A systematic review was performed to provide an updated qualitative review of walking ability outcome measures in SCI and to analyze their psychometric properties. PubMed, Cochrane, and PEDro databases were consulted until 1 April 2020. Seventeen articles written in English were included. Five of them studied the walking index for SCI, four studied the 10 meter walk test, and two studied the six-minute walk test, the timed Up and go test, and the Berg balance scale. The rest of the articles studied the following metrics: gait profile score, spinal cord injury functional ambulation profile, five times sit-to-stand test, spinal cord injury functional ambulation inventory, spinal cord independence measure (indoors and outdoors mobility items), locomotor stages in spinal cord injury, community balance and mobility scale, and activity-based balance level evaluation scale. The choice of a single or a set of metrics should be determined by the clinician. Based on the results obtained in this review, a combination of outcome measures is proposed to assess walking ability. Future work is required to integrate a more realistic environment for walking assessment.