Informatics Publishing Limited

Abstract

The interpretation of patient’s score on clinical tests of physical mobility in different age groups is limited by a lack of data describing the range of performance among people without disabilities in the different age groups especially the elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to provide data for the values of four clinical tests- 6 Minute Walk Test, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test and Normal and Fast walking speeds in community dwelling older adults.

Normal males and females (n=45) in the age group of 50- 79 yrs with asymptomatic knee function were included in the study after they gave their informed consent.

The subjects were allocated to the three groups according to their age Group A (50-59 years), Group B (60-69 years), and Group C (70-79 years). Subjects were told to wear comfortable shoes and were tested for: 6-minute walk test, Berg Balance Scale, Comfortable Gait speed, Fast Gait speed, Timed up and go test.

Using a Pearson product moment correlation test the results showed a significant decline in performance for commonly used performance tests with increase in age in community-dwelling elderly people.

Age dependant normative values for performance tests should be developed especially for commonly used tests like the 6-Minute walk test, Berg Balance Scale, Gait speed and the Timed Up & Go test.

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