Ten-Second Tandem Stance Test: A Potential Tool to Assist Walking Aid Prescription and Falls Risk in Balance Impaired Individuals

OBJECTIVE: To assess the utility of a 10-second tandem stance test in predicting gait impairment and the need for a mobility aid. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Public hospital ambulatory and hospitalized care. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were drawn from referrals to the physiotherapy service and patients identified by health care staff as needing mobility assessment. Eighty-seven people were referred to the study. Sixty-one individuals (N=61) consented to participate; mean age was 76±9.8 years and 61% were female. All participants were community dwelling. INTERVENTION: The 10-second tandem stance test and gait parameters were measured while walking with no walking aid, a walking stick, and a 4-wheeled walker were assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between the 10-second tandem stance test performance with prescribed walking aids (primary outcome variable), gait parameters (gait cycle time, cadence, stance phase, swing phase, double support, stride length, speed, peak angle velocity, maximal heel clearance), falls history, falls risk (Falls Risk for Older People in the Community [FROP-Com]), and walking aid use. RESULTS: Inability to maintain tandem stance for 10 seconds significantly increased the odds of requiring a prescribed walking aid (odds ratio [OR], 5.19; P=.01). Tandem stance test time was positively correlated with stride length, gait speed, peak angle velocity, and maximal heel clearance during the gait cycle. Correlation between tandem stance time and number of falls was weak but significant (ρ=−0.31, P=.01), and FROP-Com score for falls risk was negative and moderate for nonpreferred foot behind (ρ=−0.58, P<.01). The 10-second tandem stance with nonpreferred foot behind was associated with falling in previous 12 months (P=.04). Walking aid use history in subgroups with the individuals who cannot maintain the tandem stance with nonpreferred foot behind for 10 seconds was associated with falling in previous 12 months (OR, 55.00; 95% CI, 2.44-1238.46; P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: The 10-second tandem stance test was associated with professionally prescribed walking aids, gait parameters with prescribed walking aids, falls, and walking aid use history, indicating the test may be useful to guide the prescription of walking aids.