Inter- and intraobserver repeatability of the Salford Gait Tool: an observation-based clinical gait assessment tool.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the inter- and intraobserver repeatability of the Salford Gait Tool (SF-GT), a new observation-based gait assessment tool for evaluating sagittal plane cerebral palsy (CP) gait.


METHODS
Masked comparative evaluation.


METHODS
University in the United Kingdom.


METHODS
A convenience sample of 23 pediatric physical therapists with varying degrees of clinical experience recruited from the Greater Manchester area.


METHODS
Participants viewed videotapes of the sagittal plane gait of 13 children and used the SF-GT to analyze their 13 different gait styles on 2 occasions. Eleven children had hemiplegic, diplegic, or quadriplegic CP and 2 were neurologically intact.


METHODS
Inter- and intraobserver repeatability of hip, knee, and ankle joint positions at 6 different phases of the gait cycle.


RESULTS
The SF-GT demonstrated good interobserver (77%) and intraobserver (75%) repeatability.


CONCLUSIONS
We have established that the SF-GT is a repeatable clinical assessment tool with which to guide the diagnosis, treatment planning, and evaluation of interventions by pediatric physical therapists of sagittal plane gait deviations in CP.
Toro
Brigitte
B
Centre for Rehabilitation and Human Performance Research, University of Salford, Salford, England.
Nester
Christopher J
CJ
Farren
Pauline C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014743:Videotape Recording