Timed Tandem Gait Test (SCAT6)
Timed tandem gait is performed using a taped 3-metre straight line on a firm surface. Heel-to-toe walking is timed for 3 trials, with scoring that includes both completion time and a count of “task errors” for each trial. [1]
Test Setup
- A 3-metre-long line is placed on the floor/firm surface with athletic tape. [1]
- The task should be timed. [1]
- All 3 tandem gait trials are completed. [1]
Single-Task Tandem Gait Administration
- The instruction is to “walk heel-to-toe quickly to the end of the tape, turn around and come back as fast as you can without separating your feet or stepping off the line.” [1]
- A practice trial is administered and recorded before the 3 scored trials. [1]
Dual-Task Tandem Gait Administration
- Dual-task tandem gait is performed after tandem gait is completed first. [1]
- The dual task is counting backwards out loud by 7s while walking heel-to-toe. [1]
- Dual-task counting is practiced before the dual-task trials. [1]
- Dual-task trials are timed and recorded for completion time and task errors. [1]
Scoring Components
- Completion time (seconds) is recorded for each tandem gait trial and used to calculate an average time across 3 trials and identify the fastest trial. [1]
- “Task errors” are recorded for tandem gait performance for each trial. [1]
- A maximum task-error score is indicated as 10 for tandem gait error totals. [1]
Practical Scoring Output to Record
- For single-task tandem gait: Trial 1, Trial 2, Trial 3 times, average of 3 trials, and fastest trial time are recorded. [1]
- For single-task tandem gait: Trial-level task errors are recorded and totaled into a “Total Errors” value. [1]
- For dual-task tandem gait: Trial-level task errors and trial completion times are recorded, with dual-task fastest trial time also recorded. [1]
- When timed trials are not completed due to walking errors or other reasons, this is documented. [1]
Timing and Task Termination
- The walking task is performed until the participant completes the out-and-back heel-to-toe walk per instructions. [1]
- If single- or dual-task timed tandem gait trials are not completed due to walking errors or other reasons, delayed recall proceeds and completion status is documented. [1]