The timed 100-meter walk test: an easy-t-use, sensitive tool to detect and evaluate restricted walking capacities in multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to develop a quantitative ambulation test that correlates with the maximal walking distance in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
Background: The timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) weakly correlates with overall walking capacities of MS patients. We developed the timed 100-meter walk test (T100T), which besides reflecting speed may be more sensitive to other walking parameters such as gait and spasticity-related fatigue.
Methods: In the T100T, the patient is instructed to walk as fast as possible on a distance of 100 meters. Eighty-eight MS patients with an EDSS score from 0 to 5.5 and 60 normal controls performed the T100T and the T25FW. In addition, 30 normal controls and 30 patients performed the tests twice.
Results: T25FW (R2= 0.79) and T100T (R2 = 0.89) correlated with the nonlinear distribution of EDSS scores. The correlation between T100T and T25FW values was high (r2 = 0.81) for the low (0 to 3.0) and high (3.5-5.5) scores of EDSS. The intra-class correlations were excellent and similar for both tests. The range of T100T values in MS patients (40.4 to 114.7 seconds) was 10-fold wider than that of the T25FW (3.0 to 9.1 seconds). The univariate distribution analyses demonstrated that abnormal T100T values appear to be more sensitive than T25FW to predict walking limitations. Finally, the correlation with the reported and/or actual maximal walking distance without aid and rest was significantly better for T100T.
Conclusions : The T100T proves to be superior to the T25FW in terms of discriminatory power for the detection and evaluation of restricted walking capacities in MS. The T100T should be of interest for clinical trials studying disability worsening and improvement across the spectrum of EDSS. It may provide more sensitive measure for ambulation change in quantifying progressive MS pathology.