Catherine A Macleod1, Bernard A Conway1, David B Allan2, Sujay S Galen3. 1. Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK; Scottish Centre for Innovation in Spinal Cord Injury (SCISCI), Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK. 2. Scottish Centre for Innovation in Spinal Cord Injury (SCISCI), Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK. 3. Biomedical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK; Scottish Centre for Innovation in Spinal Cord Injury (SCISCI), Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injuries Unit, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK; Physical Therapy Program, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Care Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. Electronic address: sujay.galen@wayne.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Performing gait analysis in a clinical setting can often be challenging due to time, cost and the availability of sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis systems. This study has developed and tested a portable wireless gait assessment tool (wi-GAT) to address these challenges. AIM: To investigate the concurrent validity of the wi-GAT in measuring spatio-temporal gait parameters such as stride length, stride duration, cadence, double support time (DST), stance and swing time compared to a 3D Vicon motion analysis system. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers participated in the study (age range 23-30 years). Spatio-temporal gait parameters were recorded simultaneously by the Vicon and the wi-GAT systems as each subject walked at their self-selected speed. RESULTS: The stride length and duration, cadence, stance duration and walking speed recorded using the wi-GAT showed strong agreement with those same parameters recorded by the Vicon (ICC of 0.94-0.996). A difference between the systems in registering "toe off" resulted in less agreement (ICC of 0.299-0.847) in gait parameters such as %stance and %swing and DST. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated good concurrent validity for the wi-GAT system. The wi-GAT has the potential to be a useful assessment tool for clinicians.
BACKGROUND: Performing gait analysis in a clinical setting can often be challenging due to time, cost and the availability of sophisticated three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis systems. This study has developed and tested a portable wireless gait assessment tool (wi-GAT) to address these challenges. AIM: To investigate the concurrent validity of the wi-GAT in measuring spatio-temporal gait parameters such as stride length, stride duration, cadence, double support time (DST), stance and swing time compared to a 3D Vicon motion analysis system. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers participated in the study (age range 23-30 years). Spatio-temporal gait parameters were recorded simultaneously by the Vicon and the wi-GAT systems as each subject walked at their self-selected speed. RESULTS: The stride length and duration, cadence, stance duration and walking speed recorded using the wi-GAT showed strong agreement with those same parameters recorded by the Vicon (ICC of 0.94-0.996). A difference between the systems in registering "toe off" resulted in less agreement (ICC of 0.299-0.847) in gait parameters such as %stance and %swing and DST. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated good concurrent validity for the wi-GAT system. The wi-GAT has the potential to be a useful assessment tool for clinicians.
Authors: Albert Puig-Diví; Carles Escalona-Marfil; Josep Maria Padullés-Riu; Albert Busquets; Xavier Padullés-Chando; Daniel Marcos-Ruiz Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-06-05 Impact factor: 3.240