Standardized assessment of walking capacity after spinal cord injury: the European network approach

Abstract

Some categories of the WISCI II appear to be redundant, while some discriminate to an insufficient degree. In addition, there appear to be ceiling effects, which limit its usefulness. The relationship between the 10MWT and TUG is high, but changes over time. We suggest that, at present, the 10MWT appears to be the best tool to assess walking capacity in SCI subjects. Additional valuable information is provided by assessing the needs for walking aids or personal assistance. To ensure comparability of study results, proposals for standardized instructions are presented.