Within-day reliability of temporal-spatial gait parameters associated with rheumatoid arthritic feet.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the GAITRite system can reliably measure temporal and spatial gait parameters in patients with rheumatoid arthritic feet.


METHODS
Fifty patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis were each measured on two separate occasions on the same outpatient visit. Temporal and spatial gait parameter readings were recorded for each of three walks across the GAITRite mat. Intraclass correlations (2,1) in combination with within-subject standard deviation were used to quantify within-day reliability.


RESULTS
The intraclass correlation, ranging from 0.75 to 0.87, demonstrated excellent within-day repeatability for walking speed, cadence, step length and stride length. Good reliability was reported with cycle time (0.74) and base of support (0.62). Within-subject standard deviation allows these to be used in a clinical setting.


CONCLUSIONS
The within-day reliability of temporal and spatial gait parameters in rheumatoid arthritic patients has been demonstrated in the current study. However, further investigation of between-day reliability is necessary and would provide clinicians with reliable data in the objective assessment and any form of intervention in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Rome
Keith
K
Teesside Centre for Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Teesside, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK. K.Rome@tees.ac.uk
Hanchard
Nigel Ca
NC