Walking Assessment - McArdle Disease and Related Disorders Clinic : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

On this page...

Introduction

This page has been written by the McArdle Clinic team at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

It is intended for patients (or their families or carers) under the care of the team at this hospital. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. A member of the team will be happy to answer them for you.

Why do we do a walking assessment?

This provides us with information on your current function (i.e. giving basic information on muscle, heart and lung function) which can provide insight into how you might cope with everyday tasks.

Through testing we can do two things to help improve your health and well-being. First, we can determine your level of fitness, which we can monitor over the months and years to come.

Secondly, we can provide guidance for exercise and managing physical activities at home, work or in your leisure time and so help make everyday tasks easier.

What should I bring with me?

Please bring any drinks you may require with you. We can also provide you with water. You are welcome to bring someone with you if you wish. You should wear comfortable clothing and footwear (no high heels).

What happens during a routine walking assessment?

We will ask you to walk at your own pace on a treadmill for 12 minutes. If you are unable use a treadmill, you can walk on the floor.

We will monitor your heart rate throughout the assessment and ask you to score your level of muscle pain on a scale of one to ten. Before the test, we will explain how to use the scale and what level of pain you should not exceed.

You will be supervised throughout the assessment by our exercise physiologist or physiotherapist or both. You can rest during the assessment if you need to or stop the assessment at any time if you feel unwell.