Stride length of elderly patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: Multi-center study using the Two-Step test

Short stride length is one of clinical symptoms associated with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Short stride is a risk factor for falls; therefore, identification of factors associated with short stride is critical for fall prevention in LSS patients. Although the Two-Step test can conveniently assess maximal stride length, it has not become widely used; therefore, its data are limited. We identified the potential factors associated with short stride of elderly LSS patients using Two-Step test. Clinical data of patients aged >65 years who planned to undergo surgery for LSS were prospectively collected at multiple institutions. Patients were assessed with the Two-Step test and Timed Up-and-Go Test prior to surgery; 357 consecutive patients were enrolled. We determined the cut-off value of the Two-Step test score for short stride, referring to the Timed Up-and-Go Test score of 13.5 s, used to indicate high risk of falls in elderly individuals. Logistic regression model was constructed to identify factors associated with short stride. The Two-Step test score showed moderate-to-strong inverse correlation with that of Timed Up-and-Go Test (r = −0.65, p