Replication Data for: Optimal acceleration/deceleration distance in the 4-meter and 6-meter walk tests assessed with motion capture system in chronic stroke survivors. Cross-sectional study

Introduction: There is no consensus on the optimal distance required to accelerate/decelerate in different walking tests.
Objectives: To analyze the optimal distance to accelerate/decelerate in the 4-meter (4mWT) and 6-meter (6mWT) at comfortable and fast pace with optical motion capture system in chronic stroke survivors. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of patients whose acceleration/deceleration distance was 1-meter or less, and 2-meter or less, for each of the two tests, respectively and to evaluate whether the mean walking speed taken by stopwatch is comparable to OptiTrack.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was executed. Forty-nine stroke survivors (median age 59.45 years; 32% women) performed 12 repetitions (6x4mWT and 6x6mWT) at comfortable/fast pace. Data was captured with OptiTrack optical motion capture system (8 cameras) and analyzed with MatLab. The individuals were randomized to start with either the 6mWT or the 4mWT. All tests are performed on the same day.
Results: We observed that the optimal distance to accelerate in the 4mWT at comfortable pace was 1.12- meter, at fast speed was 1.48-meter; for the 6 mWT at comfortable speed was 1.37-meter and at a fast speed was 1.88-meter.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that to assess the 4mWT at a comfortable/fast pace it is necessary to add acceleration/deceleration distance of at least 1.5 meters, for 6mWT to accelerate at a comfortable/fast pace at least 2-meter and to decelerate at a fast pace is necessary 2.50-meter. The protocols for the 4mWT and 6mWT need to be updated to standardize the measurement protocol. This allows the patients to achieve their optimal speed in the measured space.