Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy-An International Journal

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Correlation between Parallel Walk Test and Timed Up and Go Test for Assessment of Dynamic Balance in Elderly


Affiliations
1 Amity Institute of Physiotherapy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India
     

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Objective: To correlate between parallel walk test (PWT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and to determine the better tool out of PWT30.5 and PWT25 to distinguish between fallers and non fallers.

Methodology: In this study 60 older adults, both male and female were taken. 31 elderly fallers and 29 non fallers were recruited on the basis of MMSE, Barthel Index scores, parallel stance and tandem stance tests. Subjects were timed and scored as they walked for TUGT and PWT at 2 different widths (30.5, 25cm) .

Results: PWT time was found to be correlated with TUGT at p < 0.05. Significant difference was present between fallers and non fallers for time and score of PWT at width 30.5cm(PWT 30.5) and at 25cm(PWT 25) .PWT score was not correlated with TUGT. Variation observed between time taken and score could be attributed to varying gait characteristics.

Conclusion: PWT is a simple tool for assessing dynamic balance in elderly. PWT 30.5cm may be a better tool for assessing dynamic balance.


Keywords

Parallel Walk Test, TUGT, Balance, Correlation
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  • Correlation between Parallel Walk Test and Timed Up and Go Test for Assessment of Dynamic Balance in Elderly

Abstract Views: 555  |  PDF Views: 2

Authors

Kavita Behal
Amity Institute of Physiotherapy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India
Anu Bansal
Amity Institute of Physiotherapy, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract


Objective: To correlate between parallel walk test (PWT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) and to determine the better tool out of PWT30.5 and PWT25 to distinguish between fallers and non fallers.

Methodology: In this study 60 older adults, both male and female were taken. 31 elderly fallers and 29 non fallers were recruited on the basis of MMSE, Barthel Index scores, parallel stance and tandem stance tests. Subjects were timed and scored as they walked for TUGT and PWT at 2 different widths (30.5, 25cm) .

Results: PWT time was found to be correlated with TUGT at p < 0.05. Significant difference was present between fallers and non fallers for time and score of PWT at width 30.5cm(PWT 30.5) and at 25cm(PWT 25) .PWT score was not correlated with TUGT. Variation observed between time taken and score could be attributed to varying gait characteristics.

Conclusion: PWT is a simple tool for assessing dynamic balance in elderly. PWT 30.5cm may be a better tool for assessing dynamic balance.


Keywords


Parallel Walk Test, TUGT, Balance, Correlation

References