BioPsychoSocial Assessment Tools for the Elderly - Assessment Summary Sheet Test: 20-metre walk/20-metre shuttle walk/Self-paced walking test Year: 1982 Domain: Biological Assessment Tool Category: Physical Functioning/ADLs Variations/Translations: Incremental Shuttle Walking Test Setting: Nursing home, long-term care, physical activity assessment Method of Delivery: Assessment test administered by evaluator Description: The 20-metre walk test measures the subjects’ endurance by first asking them to walk two 20-meter laps at a slow pace. The instruction for a slow pace is “walk rather slowly”. Each lap is timed (metres/second) and the average is calculated. This process is then repeated in a normal pace wherein the subject is asked to “walk at a normal pace, neither fast nor slow” (average score from 4 laps). Lastly, the subject is asked to “walk at a rather fast pace, but without overexerting yourself” (average score from 4 laps). The greater the variation obtained between each pace (e.g. slow, normal, fast), the higher the individual’s level of fitness. Scoring/Interpretation: An average score greater than 20 at a “normal pace” is indicative of a dependent level of functioning. Time to Administer: Approximately 15 minutes Availability: Available in source article Cunningham et al., 1982 (see below). Software: N/A Website: N/A Quantitative/Qualitative: Quantitative Validity (Quantitative): The validity of the 20-metre walk test is population-specific. It has not been validated among other tests. Reliability (Quantitative): The reliability of the 20-mmetre walk test is population-specific. The reliability of the test has not been evaluated. References: Cunningham, D. A., Rechnitzer, P. A., Pearce, M. E., & Donner, A. P. (1982). Determinants of self-selected walking pace across ages 19 to 66. Journals of Gerontology, 37, 560-564. Himann, J. E., Cunningham, D. A., Rechnitzer, P. A., Paterson, D. (1988). Age-related changes in speed of walking. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 20, 161-166. Comments: This test along with the 6-minute walk test provides the same cardio-respiratory output.