Concurrent related validity of the GAITRite† walkway system for quantification of the spatial and temporal parameters of gait (original) (raw)

The GAITRite † is a portable gait analysis tool for automated measurement of spatiotemporal gait parameters. Although frequently used for clinical and research purposes, the concurrent validity of GAITRite † has not been validated against a criterion measure. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the concurrent validity and test retest reliability of the GAITRite † carpet walkway system for quantification of spatial and temporal parameters of the footstep pattern. Twenty-five healthy adults aged 21 Á/ 71 years (mean 40.5 years, S.D. 17.2) performed three walk trials at self-selected pace, three at fast pace and three at slow pace. For each trial, data were simultaneously collected from the GAITRite † and a Clinical Stride Analyzer † , which has established reliability and validity. At preferred, slow and fast walking pace there were very high correlations between the two measurement systems for gait speed (ICC (2,1) 0/0.99), stride length (ICC (2,1) 0/0.99) and cadence (ICC (2,1) 0/0.99). Correlations between the electronic carpet and the stride analyser were moderate to high for single limb support (SLS) time (ICC (2,1) 0/0.69 Á/0.91) and weak for the proportion of the gait cycle spent in double limb support (ICC (2,1) 0/0.44 Á/0.57). The reliability of repeated measures for the GAITRite † was good at preferred and fast speed for speed (ICC (3,1) 0/0.93 Á/0.94), cadence (ICC (3,1) 0/0.92 Á/0.94), stride length (ICC (3,1) 0/0.97), single support (ICC (3,1) 0/0.85 Á/0.93) and the proportion of the gait cycle spent in double limb support (ICC (3,1)0/0.89 Á/0.92). The repeatability of the GAITRite † measures were more variable at slow speed (ICC (3,1) 0/0.76 Á/0.91). These results indicate that the GAITRite † system has strong concurrent validity and test retest reliability, in addition to being a portable, simple clinical tool for the objective assessment of gait. # (B. Bilney). Gait and Posture 17 (2003) 68 Á/74 www.elsevier.com/locate/gaitpost 0966-6362/02/$ -see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 9 6 6 -6 3 6 2 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 0 5 3 -X