Walking Function and Capacity in Middle-Aged and Older (59-66y) Adults With Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele: A 4-Year Follow-up Study

Objective

To present a 4-year follow-up study on walking function and capacity in adults with spina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM) aged 59-66 years.

Design

A 4-year follow-up study.

Setting

A rehabilitation hospital.

Participants

Ten middle-aged and older adults (59-66y) with SBM (N = 10), with walking ability, from a cross-sectional study of 19 participants in 2017. Five participants from 2017 were excluded due to medical reasons; 1 had lost walking ability and 3 had died.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Instrumented 10-m walk test, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and fatigue severity scale.

Results

The distance on the 6MWT decreased by more than 30 m in 5 out of 10 participants over the 4 years, whereas walking speed on the instrumented 10-m gait analysis decreased (>0.1m/s) in only 3 participants. Further, those with reduced walking capacity during the last 4 years also experienced increasing symptoms of fatigue and reported a self-perceived reduction in walking function.

Conclusions

This is the first follow-up study of people with SMB without hydrocephalus aged 59-66 years to capture changes in their walking function by using objective measures in a motion laboratory and self-reported measures. This study revealed a change in half of the persons on the 6MWT and not to the same extent in the 10-m instrumented gait analysis test during the follow-up period. This may reflect that the 6MWT is more useful in detecting changes in walking capacity in this group. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for long-term follow-up for adults with SBM to maintain optimal walking capacity for more years.