The 2-minute walk test as a measure of functional improvement in persons with lower limb amputation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the construct validity and responsiveness of the 2-minute walk test as a measure of function in individuals with lower extremity amputation.
DESIGN: The distances walked in 2 minutes were compared with the results on the physical functioning subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) and the Houghton Scale.
SETTING: Regional amputee rehabilitation program. PATIENTS: Retrospective data from 290 patients (mean age, 66yr) with unilateral transtibial, unilateral transfemoral, or bilateral amputations. INTERVENTION: Repeated testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Distance walked in 2 minutes, SF-36 (aggregated into physical and mental composite scores), and the Houghton score. We also examined the change in the distance before and after a rehabilitation program.
RESULTS: The distance walked in 2 minutes showed a weak correlation with the physical functioning subscale of the SF-36 (r = .22, p = .008) and a moderate correlation with the total Houghton score at discharge from rehabilitation (r = .493, p <or= .001). The correlation between distance walked in 2 minutes and SF-36 physical functioning subscale at follow-up was moderate (r = .479, p < .001). There was a significant improvement in distance walked in 2 minutes at discharge and follow-up compared with baseline (mean change +/- standard deviation at discharge, 13.6 +/- 19.9m; at follow-up, 41.2 +/- 34m, p < .001).
CONCLUSION: The 2-minute walk test was responsive to change with rehabilitation in persons with lower extremity amputation. In addition, the 2-minute walk test showed adequate correlation with measures of physical functioning and prosthetic use in this population. Copyright 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation