Reliability and Validity of the Narrow Path Walking Test for People with Multiple Sclerosis

U Rosenblum, I Melzer, A Achiron

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting Abstractpeer-review

Abstract

Background and Purpose: About 90% of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have gait instability and 50% fall. Reliable and clinically feasible methods of gait instability assessment are needed. The study investigated the reliability and validity of the Narrow Path Walking Test (NPWT) under single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT) conditions for PwMS. Methods: Thirty PwMS performed the NPWT on 2 different occasions, a week apart. Number of Steps, Trial Time, Trial Velocity, Step Length, Number of StepErrors, Number ofCognitiveTask Errors, and Number of Balance Losses were measured. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1) were calculated from the average values of NPWT parameters. Absolute reliability was quantified from standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest real difference (SRD). Concurrent validity of NPWT with Functional Reach Test, Four Square Step Test (FSST), 12-item Multiple SclerosisWalking Scale (MSWS-12), and 2 Minute Walking Test (2MWT) was determined using partial correlations. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for most NPWT parameters during ST and DT ranged from 0.46–0.94 and 0.55–0.95, respectively. The highest relative reliability was found for Number of Step Errors (ICC = 0.94 and 0.93, for ST and DT, respectively) and Trial Velocity (ICC = 0.83 and 0.86, for ST and DT, respectively). Absolute reliability was high for Number of Step Errors in ST (SEM % = 19.53%) and DT (SEM % = 18.14%) and low for Trial Velocity in ST (SEM % = 6.88%) and DT (SEM % = 7.29%). Significant correlations for Number of Step Errors and Trial Velocity were found with FSST, MSWS-12, and 2MWT.
Original languageEnglish GB
Pages (from-to)423-423
Number of pages1
JournalMultiple Sclerosis Journal
Volume20
StatePublished - 2014

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