title: Reliability and Validity Study of the Chamorro Assisted Gait Scale for People with Sprained Ankles, Walking with Forearm Crutches.
abstract: The aim of this study was to design and validate a functional assessment scale for assisted gait with forearm crutches (Chamorro Assisted Gait Scale-CHAGS) and to assess its reliability in people with sprained ankles.
  
  
  
  Thirty subjects who suffered from sprained ankle (anterior talofibular ligament first and second degree) were included in the study. A modified Delphi technique was used to obtain the content validity. The selected items were: pelvic and scapular girdle dissociation(1), deviation of Center of Gravity(2), crutch inclination(3), steps rhythm(4), symmetry of step length(5), cross support(6), simultaneous support of foot and crutch(7), forearm off(8), facing forward(9) and fluency(10). Two raters twice visualized the gait of the sample subjects which were recorded. The criterion-related validity was determined by correlation between CHAGS and Coding of eight criteria of qualitative gait analysis (Viel Coding). Internal consistency and inter and intra-rater reliability were also tested.
  
  
  
  CHAGS obtained a high and negative correlation with Viel Coding. We obtained a good internal consistency and the intra-class correlation coefficients oscillated between 0.97 and 0.99, while the minimal detectable changes were acceptable.
  
  
  
  CHAGS scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing assisted gait with crutches in people with sprained ankles to perform partial relief of lower limbs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Research Group "Area of Physiotherapy CTS-305," University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Gema
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4592-0882
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chamorro-Moriana
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Research Group "Area of Physiotherapy CTS-305," University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ridao-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanics and Manufacture, Research Group "Mechanical Engineering," University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Research Group "Area of Physiotherapy CTS-305," University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benítez-Lugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Architecture and Technology of Computers, Research Group "Robotics and Technology of Computers," University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sevillano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003446:Crutches; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D014741:Video Recording; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*