OBJECTIVE

To assess the validity and reliability of 3 timed walking tests (Timed Up & Go [TUG], 10-meter walk test [10MWT], 6-minute walk test) in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study and repeated assessments.

SETTING

The SCI center of a university hospital in Switzerland.

PARTICIPANTS

Validity was assessed by using the data of 75 patients with SCI, and reliability was determined with 22 patients with SCI.

INTERVENTION

Patients performed the timed tests and the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (WISCI II) on the same day. Three measurements within 7 days were taken to assess reliability.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The measures were scatterplots, correlation coefficients ( r ), and the Bland-Altman plot. Validity was determined in patients with different walking abilities.

RESULTS

Overall, correlation of the 3 timed walking tests was excellent with each other (| r |>.88) and moderate with the WISCI II (| r |>.60). The correlation between the timed tests for patients with poor walking ability remained high (| r |>.70) but decreased in WISCI II (| r |<.35). High correlation coefficients ( r >.97) were found for intra- and interrater reliability. However, TUG and 10MWT reliability were negatively influenced by a poor walking function.

CONCLUSIONS

The 3 timed tests are valid and reliable measures for assessing walking function in patients with SCI.