title: Repeatability of the timed 25-foot walk test for individuals with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a practice effect present in the timed 25-foot walk in ambulatory individuals with multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty six people (30 women and 6 men) diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis participated in two testing sessions, one week apart. Each participant performed two sequential trials of the timed 25-foot walk test per session and the walk performance was measured with a laser timing system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed improvements in walking speed between the two trials of session one (trial one: 6.42 (0.09) vs. trail two: 5.97 (0.08) seconds, p < 0.001). Within session two, performance remained stable (trial three: 5.71 (0.07) vs. trial four: 5.63 (0.07) seconds, p > 0.05). We also observed a significant improvement in walking speed when averages of the two trials were compared across sessions (session 1: 6.19 (0.09) vs. session 2: 5.67 (0.07) seconds, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our results, familiarization of the timed 25-foot walk test improves stability of walk performance scores in ambulatory individuals with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.
authors: Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. rdlarson@ou.edu
authors: Rebecca D
authors: RD
authors: Larson
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Larson
authors: Ted B
authors: TB
authors: Baumgartner
authors: Lesley J
authors: LJ
authors: White
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Multiple sclerosis; assessment; clinical tests; mobility; repeatability