The reliability and validity of the Figure of 8 walk test in mildly disabled persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Figure of 8 Walk Test (F8WT) assesses the multidirectional and adaptive requirements of both straight and curved path walking. The study aimed to examine the reliability, validity, and minimal detectable change (MDC) of the F8WT in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS).

Methods: 45 mildly disabled pwMS (10 male, 35 female) were included in the study. Reliability of F8WT test was evaluated with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). MDC estimates were calculated using baseline data. The correlation between the F8WT and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), The Timed Up and Go test (TUG), The Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (T25FW), The Four Square Step Test (FSST) was used for the validity.

Results: The intra-rater (ICC 0.980-0.983) and inter-rater (ICC 0.976-0.985) reliability of the F8WT was determined to be excellent. MDC values for intra-rater were 1.04-1.08 s, and MDC values for inter-rater were 1.16-0.99 s. The correlation with F8WT and BBS (p = 0.000, r = -0.702), TUG (p = 0.000, r = 0.854), T25FW (p = 0.000, r = 0.784), FSST (p = 0.000, r = 0.748) was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions: The F8WT has good reliability and validity in mildly disabled pwMS. According to the MDC results, small differences in pwMS can be adequately detected with F8WT. Therefore, it may be a clinically suitable test for detecting balance and walking.