Sensitivity of the Tinetti Gait Assessment for detecting change in individuals with Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the Tinetti Gait Assessment's sensitivity for detecting changes in verbally instructed gait in patients with Parkinson's disease.


METHODS
Two-group comparison study with sample of convenience.


METHODS
Motor Behavior Lab, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida.


METHODS
Twenty community-dwelling, elderly adults: 10 with moderately disabling Parkinson's disease (PD) recruited from local Parkinson Support Groups and 10 gender- and age-matched adults without PD recruited from the local community.


METHODS
Tinetti Gait Assessment (TGA) overall scores. All subjects were assessed while walking under five verbally instructed conditions: (1) usual walking, (2) swing arms, (3) take large steps, (4) walk fast, (5) count aloud.


RESULTS
A 2 x 5 analysis of variance (group x instructional set) was performed. The PD group scored less than the control group on the TGA regardless of the instructed walking conditions (p < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference in the TGA scores across conditions. The effect size of the instructional set measured by the TGA was greatest for the swing arms condition, though small at 0.25.


CONCLUSIONS
The TGA is not sensitive for detecting change in the gait impairments observed in moderately disabling PD and, therefore, is not adequate as an assessment to establish short-term goals, guide treatment, or assess the effects of intervention for clients with PD.
Behrman
Andrea L
AL
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville 32510-0154, USA. abehrman@hp.ufl.edu
Light
Kathye E
KE
Miller
Goria M
GM
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity