Proposal and validation of a new functional ambulation classification scale for clinical use

Objective: To validate a new functional ambulation classification. Design: Validity study. Setting: In- and outpatients of a district hospital rehabilitation service. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Three independent examiners assessed the functional ambulation levels of each patient in blind trials. Interrater reliability was analyzed among the examiners. Walking velocity (slow, normal, fast) was measured with a manual chronometer, and the number of steps taken over a 48-hour period was recorded with a step counter. The linear correlation was calculated from among functional level classification, walking velocity, and the number of steps taken. Results: There was a good interrater reliability among the examiners (kappa=.74). A significant association and a linear correlation were found between functional ambulation level, walking velocity, and the number of steps taken. Conclusions: The proposed classification is reliable and valid for determining the different levels of walking abilities.