REPRODUCIBILITY OF THE WALKING PATTERNS OF NORMAL YOUNG-ADULTS - TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF THE WALK RATIO (STEP-LENGTH STEP-RATE)/

The walk ratio, step-length divided by step-rate, is a speed-independe nt index of walking patterns. This study reports on the reproducibilit y of the walk ratio in repeated tests. A total of 25 healthy young sub jects walked on a flat floor at five different speeds and the test was repeated on the same day and after 3 months. The walk ratio did not v ary in the tests. Intraclass correlation coefficients of the walk rati o between the tests were 0.6-0.8 except for walking at extreme speeds. These results suggest that the walk ratio is a reliable measure for e valuating pathological and aging walking patterns. (C) 1998 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.