Clinical Utility of the 2-Minute Walk Test for Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care

Abstract

Purpose: This study's purposes were to examine the measurement properties of the 2-minute walk test (2MWT), to illustrate the use of reliability coefficients in clinical practice, and to estimate sample size for a subsequent validity study. Method: Sixteen residents of long-term care (LTC; mean age = 87 years) completed two 2MWTs with Rater A and two 2MWTs with Rater B on test days 1 and 2, approximately 1 week apart. On a third test day, subjects completed one trial of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up-and-go (TUG) test, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) with Rater A. On 2 other test days, approximately 1 week apart, Rater A administered the 2MWT to five older adults living in a retirement facility. Absolute and relative reliability and concurrent and known-groups validity coefficients were calculated. Results: No main effect for rater, trial, or occasion was found. Test–retest reliability estimates of 0.94 and 0.95 were obtained. The 2MWT demonstrated concurrent validity (r ≥ 0.84) with the BBS, TUG, and 6MWT. Comparison of distance walked by LTC and retirement residents showed a difference of 72.9 m (95% CI: 44.2, 101.6). The results suggest that 90% of truly stable older adults will display random fluctuations in 2MWT performance within a boundary of 15 m. Conclusion: The 2MWT had sound measurement properties in this sample of LTC residents. Based on our results, 24 subjects would be required for a subsequent hypothesis-testing validity study.