The psychometric properties and clinical utility of measures of walking and mobility in neurological conditions: a systematic review.

The objective of this study was to identify psychometrically robust and clinically feasible measures of walking and mobility in people with neurological conditions.  Independent reviewers selected and extracted data from articles that assessed the reliability, validity, sensitivity to change or clinical utility of measures of walking and mobility in adult neurological conditions. Measures with ‘good’ psychometrics and 9/10 clinical utility scores were recommended.  Seventeen measures were selected. Of these, the 5-m and 10-m walk tests, six-minute walk test, High Level Mobility Assessment Tool (HiMAT) and the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) reached the required standards and are usable in clinical practice. None of the recommended measures assessed wheelchair mobility.

The 5-m, 10-m and six-minute walk test, High Level Mobility Assessment Tool and the Rivermead Mobility Index are psychometrically robust measures of walking and mobility and are feasible for use in clinical practice.

Tyson S, Connell L. The psychometric properties and clinical utility of measures of walking and mobility in neurological conditions: a systematic review. Clin Rehabil. 2009 Sep 28; online article ahead of print