Walking Function and Capacity in Middle-Aged and Older (59-66y) Adults With Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele: A 4-Year Follow-up Study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To present a 4-year follow-up study on walking function and capacity in adults with spina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM) aged 59-66 years. Design: A 4-year follow-up study. Setting: A rehabilitation hospital. Participants: Ten middle-aged and older adults (59-66y) with SBM (N = 10), with walking ability, from a cross-sectional study of 19 participants in 2017. Five participants from 2017 were excluded due to medical reasons; 1 had lost walking ability and 3 had died. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Instrumented 10-m walk test, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and fatigue severity scale. Results: The distance on the 6MWT decreased by more than 30 m in 5 out of 10 participants over the 4 years, whereas walking speed on the instrumented 10-m gait analysis decreased (>0.1m/s) in only 3 participants. Further, those with reduced walking capacity during the last 4 years also experienced increasing symptoms of fatigue and reported a self-perceived reduction in walking function. Conclusions: This is the first follow-up study of people with SMB without hydrocephalus aged 59-66 years to capture changes in their walking function by using objective measures in a motion laboratory and self-reported measures. This study revealed a change in half of the persons on the 6MWT and not to the same extent in the 10-m instrumented gait analysis test during the follow-up period. This may reflect that the 6MWT is more useful in detecting changes in walking capacity in this group. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for long-term follow-up for adults with SBM to maintain optimal walking capacity for more years.
Institution: Sunnaas sykehus
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
OpenAlex ID: W4405429833