Test-retest reliability of spatial and temporal gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy as measured by an electronic walkway.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine test-retest reliability of seven selected temporal and spatial gait parameters and asymmetry measures in children with cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Seventeen children with CP between 3 and 13 years of age walked at three different speeds across an electronic walkway of 5.2m. The tests were repeated after approximately 25 min. The scores were normalized to a walking speed of 1.1m/s to avoid the confounding effect of gait speed on speed dependent gait parameters. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(1,1) and ICC(3,1)) with 95% confidence intervals, within-subject standard deviation (S(w)) and smallest detectable difference (SDD) were calculated.


RESULTS
The relative reliability of cadence, step length, stride length and single stance time was high to excellent (ICC(1,1) between 0.73 and 0.95), while it was poor for step width (ICC(1,1)=0.27 and 0.35). The relative reliability for two calculated asymmetry measures were high for the step length index (ICC(1,1)=0.82) and moderate for the single stance time index (ICC(1,1)=0.49). The absolute reliability values for all gait parameters are reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Five of seven gait parameters measured by an electronic walkway and normalized to a common walking speed, appear to be highly repeatable in a short-term time span in children with CP who were able to walk without assistive walking devices, provided sufficient cognitive function.
Sorsdahl
Anne Brit
AB
Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, Section for Physiotherapy Science, University of Bergen, N-5020, Bergen, Norway. anne.sorsdahl@isf.uib.no
Moe-Nilssen
Rolf
R
Strand
Liv Inger
LI
D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology