Reliability and validity of the Observational Gait Scale in children with spastic diplegia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of visual gait assessment in children with spastic diplegia, who were community or household ambulators, using a modified version of the Physicians Rating Scale, known as the Observational Gait Scale (OGS). Two clinicians viewed edited split‐screen video recordings of 20 children/adolescents (11 males, 9 females; mean age 12 years, range 6 to 21 years) made at the time of three‐dimensional gait analysis (3‐DGA). Walking ability in each child was scored at initial assessment and reassessed from the same videos three months later using the first seven sections of the OGS. Validity of the OGS score was determined by comparison with 3‐DGA. The OGS was found to have acceptable interrater and intrarater reliability for knee and foot position in mid‐stance, initial foot contact, and heel rise with weighted kappas (wk) ranging from 0.53 to 0.91 (intrarater) and 0.43 to 0.86 (interrater). Comparison with 3‐DGA suggests that these sections might also have high validity(wk range 0.38–0.94). Base of support and hind foot position had lower interrater and intrarater reliabilities (wk 0.29 to 0.71 and wk 0.30 to 0.78 respectively) and were not easily validated by 3‐DGA.

Predicting mobility gains among children with cerebral palsy after application of botulinum toxin A

“…These results indicate that gait quality assessment prior to BTA application may predict positive results in mobility performance three and six months after the procedure. Mackey et al 23 compared inter and intra-examiner reliability and the validity of the modified version of the PRS with a three-dimensional gait analysis system (gold standard). The results indicated adequate validity indices between the modified PRS and three-dimensional gait analysis system, as well as adequate consistency in administering the modified PRS, which supports its use among children with CP who will undergo BTA application.…”

Görsel yürüme analizi

“…[7] Krebs ve arkadaşları, yürüme bozukluğu olan ve ortez kullanan 15 çocuk hastanın dahil edildiği çalışma-da; görsel video analizinin özellikle sagittal plandaki patolojierin tanımlanmasında uygun, ancak orta derecede güvenilir bir değerlendirme metodu olduğunu vurgulamışlardır. [8] Şekil 9.…”

Correlação entre a Visual Gait Assessment Scale, Edinburgh Visual Gait Scale e Escala Observacional da Marcha em crianças com paralisia cerebral diparética espástica

“…In order to improve the gait of these children and to analyze the effects of the proposed interventions it becomes necessary to perform an instrumented analysis of the gait before and after the intervention 1,5,6 . The kinetic, kinematic and electromyographic quantitative analysis is considered by the literature the gold standard of the gait assessment, since it generates an accurate and reliable information on the three planes of motion 1,[7][8][9][10] . Despite of the presented benefits, the authors 1,7-10 consider their applicability in clinical practice limited, since this type of analysis requires expensive and sophisticated equipment reducing its availability in most of the rehabilitation centers, especially in emerging countries.…”

“…Nunes 18 validated the EVGS for Portuguese language, developing a software that contains a training package for its application. Researchers have been creating and validating observational scales that are more reliable with the aim to assist physical therapists in the clinical decision making, in the evaluation of their interventions and also to unify the language of these professionals 10,11,15,17,19,20 . The observational gait scales do not present good results for all evaluated parameters, however they remain important clinical tools.…”