Relative and absolute reliability of gait variables obtained from gait analysis with trunk acceleration in community-dwelling individuals with chronic stroke: a pilot study

Abstract

This pilot study aimed to investigate the relative and absolute reliability of variables obtained from an acceleration-based gait analysis conducted at comfortable and maximal gait speeds in individuals with chronic stroke. [Participants and Methods] This study included 25 community-dwelling individuals with chronic stroke. The participants wore triaxial accelerometers, while an observed walking trial was performed at comfortable and maximal speeds on two separate days 1 week apart. Relative reliability was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient, and absolute reliability was evaluated using the Bland-Altman analysis, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change.[Results] The intraclass correlation coefficient of gait varied according to the acceleration-based gait analysis, ranging from 0.70 to 0.99. The Bland-Altman analysis revealed no systematic bias in both comfortable and maximal gait speed conditions. Most of the minimal detectable changes were smaller at maximal gait speed than at comfortable gait speed. [Conclusion] Acceleration-based gait analysis is a reliable method, particularly in maximal gait speed conditions. It may be used to assess the effect of rehabilitation interventions in individuals with chronic stroke.

Minimal detectable change of gait and balance measures in older neurological patients: estimating the standard error of the measurement from before-after rehabilitation data thanks to the linear mixed-effects models

“…Patients are assessed twice in a typical test-retest experiment for estimating SEM or the reliability of mobility measures, usually one week (e.g. [ 48 ]). or a couple of weeks apart (e.g.…”

“…Second, it is important to note that studies employing conventional steady-state, test-retest experimental designs pointed out the absence of bias for mobility measures between the two assessment sessions. For example, no systematic difference has been found for several gait variables in walking tests in chronic stroke patients [ 48 ]. A bias is not explicitly underlined in a systematic review of the reliability of gait measures [ 53 ].…”

Minimal detectable change in inertial measurement unit-based trunk acceleration indices during gait in inpatients with subacute stroke

“…MDC in normalized RMS was higher in ML than in VT and AP. Normalized RMS is widely used to measure trunk sway in the gait assessment of patients with stroke 5,16,[30][31][32] . In addition, the trunk sway obtained by RMS after stroke is significantly different from that of healthy people, allowing for specific gait characteristics after www.nature.com/scientificreports/ stroke 31,32 .…”

“…Identifying the measures' MDCs allows discrimination between measurement error and true change, which is a valuable insight in determining the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions. MDC of trunk acceleration indices has been reported in healthy people 15 and patients with chronic stroke 16,17 . However, the MDC of trunk acceleration indices during walking in inpatients with subacute stroke is yet to be clarified.…”

Smoothness of gait in healthy older females and patients with postoperative proximal femur fracture

“…The HR has been reported to assess regularity, harmony, and symmetry of movements; discriminate between the gait of younger adults and that of older adults 9) ; and elucidate the fall experience of older adults 10) . In this regard, the reliability and usefulness of HR as an assessment of regularity and asymmetry in gait for unilateral disability after stroke have been reported 11,12) . Furthermore, Wada et al 13) reported that preoperative and postoperative gait evaluation of females with osteoarthritis of the hip joint showed improved HR; however, their HR values were lower than those of healthy participants, suggesting residual asymmetry.…”