Evaluation of the validity and reliability of the 10-meter walk test using a smartphone application among Japanese older adults

ObjectiveMaintaining or improving regular walking speed can help extend healthy life expectancy and prevent frailty. The evaluation of walking speed can help individuals meet their daily exercise goals; therefore, it may be beneficial as a public health policy for residents to measure and evaluate their walking speed easily. This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of a smartphone application for the 10-m walk test, measured in the general population. MethodsThe study participants were men (n = 20) and women (n = 20) aged 65-85 years. The 10-m walk tests were performed at the usual walking speed, using the stopwatch function of a newly developed smartphone application. A total of three 10-m walk tests were performed simultaneously with the study participants and professional fitness instructors to evaluate the criterion-related validity and the test-retest reliability. ResultsA strong positive correlation was found in the criterion-related validity by the study participants and professional staff for the average of the three trials {r = 0.961 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.927, 0.979]}. The results revealed good reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.712 (95% CI = 0.571, 0.823). ConclusionThe smartphone application walking speed measurement method can be widely used by the general public and is useful for health promotion.