title: Effect of course length and corridor width on the 2-minute walk test performance in geriatric patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of course length and corridor width on 2-minute walk test results in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional and experimental study with different test conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Geriatric rehabilitation clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 patients (median age 81 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients walked two minutes on a 20 m and 40 m course with a 2 m or 1 m corridor width and on a continuous course without any turning in a corridor of 2 m width, five walks in total. The distance traveled within the 2 minutes was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the 20 m course length, median walking distances measured by the 2-minute walk test in a walk way 2 m broad were better on the continuous corridor without any turn (136.9 m vs. 129.3 m, p = 0.002) and on the 40 m course (131.8 m vs. 129.3 m, p = 0.003). Walking distance on a 20 m course length was longer in a corridor of 2 m width compared with the 1 m corridor width (129.3 m vs. 119.2 m, p = 0.005). The walking distance was not affected by corridor width on the 40 m course length.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performance of elderly patients on the 2-minute walk test is influenced by the width of the corridor and the length of the course used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Clinic for Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Clinic for Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Clinic for Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D000070857:Walk Test / Q000379:methods*
keywords: 2-minute walk test; Course length; corridor width; geriatric patients