Optimal acceleration and deceleration distance in the 4-meter and 6-meter walk tests assessed with motion capture system in people with chronic stroke: cross-sectional study.

Abstract

To identify the optimal distances to accelerate and decelerate in the 4-meter (4mWT) and 6-meter (6mWT) walking tests at comfortable and fast pace in people with stroke. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 49 individuals (median age 59.45 years). Participants completed three repetitions of each walk test (4mWT and 6mWT) at comfortable and fast pace. Data were collected using an OptiTrack motion capture system (8-camera). Acceleration and deceleration distances were defined as the distances required to reach and reduce from average walking speed, respectively. For the 4mWT, the optimal acceleration and deceleration distances were 1.12-m and 1.17-m at a comfortable pace, and 1.48-m and 1.50-m at a fast pace. For the 6mWT, they were 1.37-m and 1.88-m at a comfortable pace, and 1.89-m and 2.39-m at a fast pace. It is recommended to include 1.2-m at a comfortable or 1.5-m at a fast pace for acceleration and deceleration in the 4mWT and 2-m for acceleration at both comfortable and fast pace, 2-m for deceleration at a comfortable pace and 2.5-m for deceleration at fast pace in the 6mWT. Incorporating these distances may enhance the validity and comparability of walking speed assessments in stroke populations. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT0567901.