Groningen Meander Walking Test in Older Adults With Balance Problems (GMWT-OA)

Test-Retest Reliability and Construct Validity of the Groningen Meander Walking Test in Older Adults With Self-Reported Balance Problems and/or a History of Falls

This observational cross-sectional psychometric study aims to examine the test-retest reliability and construct validity of the Groningen Meander Walking Test in older adults with self-reported balance problems and/or a history of falls. Participants aged 65 years or older will be recruited from the Orthopedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic of Ordu University Training and Research Hospital. The Groningen Meander Walking Test will be performed twice during the first session and repeated in a second session to assess within-day and between-day reliability. Construct validity will be evaluated using the Timed Up and Go Test, Figure-of-Eight Walking Test, Berg Balance Scale, and Falls Efficacy Scale-International. The study will also explore the ability of the Groningen Meander Walking Test to discriminate between participants with low and increased fall risk according to the Berg Balance Scale.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Fall; Older People; Gait Disorders in Old Age

Detailed Description

This observational cross-sectional study will evaluate the reliability and validity of the Groningen Meander Walking Test in older adults with self-reported balance problems and/or a history of falls. Participants aged 65 years or older will be recruited from the Orthopedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic of Ordu University Training and Research Hospital.

The Groningen Meander Walking Test will be administered in two assessment sessions to examine within-day and between-day test-retest reliability. Completion time and overstep score will be recorded. Construct validity will be assessed by comparing Groningen Meander Walking Test outcomes with established clinical measures of functional mobility, curved walking performance, balance, and concern about falling.

The study aims to determine whether the Groningen Meander Walking Test is a clinically useful assessment tool for advanced walking ability in older adults with balance problems and/or fall history.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 70

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: ELİF A POLAT, PhD; Phone Number: 6401 04522265248; Email: fzteapolat@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults aged 65 years or older with self-reported balance problems and/or a history of falls within the previous 12 months will be recruited from the Orthopedics and Traumatology outpatient clinic of Ordu University Training and Research Hospital. Eligible participants will be individuals who can walk independently with or without a single walking aid and who are able to complete the clinical walking and balance assessments.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Aged 65 years or older Self-reported balance problems during activities of daily living and/or a history of at least one fall within the previous 12 months Able to walk independently with or without a single walking aid Able to understand and follow verbal instructions Willing to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Presence of neurological, vestibular, visual, orthopedic, systemic, or medical conditions that may substantially affect gait or balance Acute lower-extremity injury or recent lower-extremity surgery Severe pain preventing completion of the walking or balance tests Cognitive impairment that may limit the ability to understand or follow test instructions Inability to walk independently without personal assistance Use of a rollator

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Older Adults With Balance Problems; Participants aged 65 years or older with self-reported balance problems and/or a history of falls within the previous 12 months will undergo clinical assessments, including the Groningen Meander Walking Test, Timed Up and Go Test, Figure-of-Eight Walking Test, Berg Balance Scale, and Falls Efficacy Scale-International. No intervention will be administered.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Groningen Meander Walking Test Completion Time	Completion time of the Groningen Meander Walking Test will be recorded in seconds. The mean of the start-to-end and end-to-start completion times will be used as the GMWT completion time. A longer completion time indicates poorer advanced walking performance.	Day 0 and 3-7 days after baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Groningen Meander Walking Test Overstep Score	The number of times the participant's foot completely lands outside the marked pathway will be recorded. Oversteps from the start-to-end and end-to-start directions will be summed. A higher score indicates poorer stepping accuracy.	Day 0 and 3-7 days after baseline
Timed Up and Go Test Completion Time	Functional mobility will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test. The time required to stand from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, return to the chair, and sit down will be recorded in seconds. A longer time indicates poorer functional mobility.	Day 0
Figure-of-Eight Walking Test Completion Time	Curved walking performance will be assessed using the Figure-of-Eight Walking Test. Completion time will be recorded in seconds, and a longer time indicates poorer advanced walking performance.	Day 0
Berg Balance Scale Score	Functional balance will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale. Total scores range from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating better balance performance and lower fall risk.	Day 0
Falls Efficacy Scale-International Score	Concern about falling during daily activities will be assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Total scores range from 16 to 64, with higher scores indicating greater concern about falling.	Day 0

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ordu University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: ELİF A POLAT, Assoc.Prof., Ordu University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 3, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 3, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: ODU-SBFTR-AYGUNPOLAT-007

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No