Walking speed is a highly valid test , both at habitual and maximum speed .
Both habitual and maximum walking speeds are valid instruments , and they predict death , hospitalization/institutionalization , and decline in mobility
The number of available walking tests has increased dramatically over the past decades .
Therefore , it is highly important to help clinicians choose the most appropriate walking test for a specific setting .
This systematic review aim ed to critically evaluate the reliability , validity , and responsiveness of clinical walking speed in a broad population of elderly persons living in the community , sheltered housing , or institutions .
Criteria for evaluation of measurement properties of clinical balance measures for use in fall prevention studies.
Work Package 3 of the Prevention of Falls Network Europe has evaluated measurement properties of clinical balance measures to be used to : ( 1 ) select participants for interventions with the goal to prevent falls in older people , and ( 2 ) assess the results of such intervention on balance function . Inclusion in a fall prevention study may be based on measures identifying subjects who have impaired balance or increased risk of future falls . We propose that an appropriate statistical method to analyse discriminative ability of a balance measure is discriminant analysis or logistic regression analysis . The optimal cut-off score is best determined by plotting a receiver-operating-characteristic curve for different cut-off values . The evaluation of predictors for risk of future falls should be based on a study design with a prospect i ve data collection of falls . Sensitivity to change is a measurement property needed to evaluate the outcome of an intervention . The st and ardized response mean is frequently encountered in the literature and is recommended as a statistical measure of sensitivity to change in the context of an intervention study . Adequate reliability is a prerequisite for consistent measurement . Relative reliability may be reported as an intraclass correlation coefficient and absolute reliability as the within-subject st and ard deviation ( s(w ) ) , also called st and ard error of measurement . When measurement error is proportional to the score , calculation of a coefficient of variation can be considered . In a second paper , the authors will evaluate  clinical balance measures  for use in fall prevention studies based upon criteria recommended in this report
Walking speed is a highly valid test , both at habitual and maximum speed .
Both habitual and maximum walking speeds are valid instruments , and they predict death , hospitalization/institutionalization , and decline in mobility
The number of available walking tests has increased dramatically over the past decades .
Therefore , it is highly important to help clinicians choose the most appropriate walking test for a specific setting .
This systematic review aim ed to critically evaluate the reliability , validity , and responsiveness of clinical walking speed in a broad population of elderly persons living in the community , sheltered housing , or institutions .