Impact of Static v/s Dynamic Start on Results of 10 Metre Walk Test in Patients with Acute Traumatic Brain Injury

Deficits in gait are common after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).The goal of physical therapy is to achieve a self-selected gait velocity sufficient for community based rehabilitation.

The 10 Meter Walk Test is a performance measure routinely employed in physiotherapy practice for assessment of functional mobility, gait speed, for comparison of the results and to maintain a record of improvement or deterioration in gait speed of patient.

It is also widely employed for clinical as well as research purpose, but never any consideration was given to the method of start weather “static” or “dynamic”, though the results differed in the two. So it is important to know whether by using the different start in same patients the results of the test vary or not.

To observe results of 10m walk test with static start in patients with TBI.

To observe results of 10m walk test with dynamic start in patients with TBI.

To compare the results of 10m walk test performed with static start and dynamic start in patients with TBI.

Study design is cross over study with sample size of 16 patients (32 observations), calculated by performing a small pilot study. (N-Master software 2.0 version).

16 Patients aged 18–65, with first episode of traumatic brain injury, able to ambulate independently and give an informed consent were selected. First 8 patients were assessed first for 3 trials of static start and then after 3 trials of dynamic start. Next 8 patients were assessed first for 3 trials of dynamic start followed by 3 trails of static start. Mean value of the trials was calculated and results of the both were compared.

Mean values of both the start were analyzed using independent t-test. And the value for static start was (10.62 ± 2.58) and for dynamic start was (8.2 ± 1.74) with p-value 0.004 that is statistically significant. (R Software 2.15.2).

Results of 10 meter walk test (time taken to complete the distance) are significantly higher with static start as compared to the dynamic start.

Thus there is definitely the impact of start on the results of 10 meter walk test.