title: The diagnostic reliability of Internet-based observational kinematic gait analysis.
abstract: We investigated the accuracy and reliability of observational kinematic gait assessments performed via a low-bandwidth Internet link (18 kbit/s) and a higher-speed Internet link (128 kbit/s). Twenty-four subjects were randomized to either bandwidth group. Gait was assessed with the Gait Assessment Rating Scale (GARS) in the traditional manner, which is from video-recordings, and with repeated measurements via the online method. Online assessment was found to provide as accurate a measure of gait performance as the traditional assessment (limits of agreement<1 GARS point; intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.96) regardless of the speed of the Internet connection. The online assessment also demonstrated high intra-rater (ICC = 0.96) and inter-rater (ICC = 0.92) reliability. Low-bandwidth telerehabilitation applications appear to be feasible via the Internet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. t.russell@shrs.uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Trevor G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Gwendolen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Jull
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wootton
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results