Predicting long walking capacity from the timed 25-foot walk test in persons with multiple sclerosis – a potential simple aid to assist ambulation scoring?

Background: : In people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), no formula exists to predict long walking capacity. Objective: : To examine the accuracy of the timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) to predict long walking in pwMS with various degrees of walking dysfunction. Methods: : A linear regression was made between the T25FW and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) using data from 498 pwMS. Results: : Prediction showed an excellent agreement between actual and predicted 6MWT distances, with an acceptable error of 10%, which increased as walking dysfunction increased. Conclusions: : The T25WT provided acceptable prediction of the 6MWT in pwMS, although less accurate at higher degrees of dysfunction.