Age- and gender-related test performance in community-dwelling elderly people: Six-Minute Walk Test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up & Go Test, and gait speeds.
OBJECTIVE
The interpretation of patient scores on clinical tests of physical mobility is limited by a lack of data describing the range of performance among people without disabilities. The purpose of this study was to provide data for 4 common clinical tests in a sample of community-dwelling older adults.


METHODS
Ninety-six community-dwelling elderly people (61-89 years of age) with independent functioning performed 4 clinical tests.


METHODS
Data were collected on the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MW), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Timed Up & Go Test (TUG) and during comfortable- and fast-speed walking (CGS and FGS). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to determine the test-retest reliability for the 6MW, TUG, CGS, and FGS measurements. Data were analyzed by gender and age (60-69, 70-79, and 80-89 years) cohorts, similar to previous studies. Means, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals for each measurement were calculated for each cohort.


RESULTS
The 6MW, TUG, CGS, and FGS measurements showed high test-retest reliability (ICC [2,1]=.95-.97). Mean test scores showed a trend of age-related declines for the 6MW, BBS, TUG, CGS, and FGS for both male and female subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary descriptive data suggest that physical therapists should use age-related data when interpreting patient data obtained for the 6MW, BBS, TUG, CGS and FGS. Further data on these clinical tests with larger sample sizes are needed to serve as a reference for patient comparisons.
Steffen
Teresa M
TM
Program in Physical Therapy, Concordia University Wisconsin, 12800 N Lake Shore Dr, Mequon, WI 53097, USA. terry.steffen@cuw.edu
Hacker
Timothy A
TA
Mollinger
Louise
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018401:Sample Size; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*