Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between the Gait Deviation Index (GDI), a
multivariate measure of overall gait impairment, and measures of both community
walking performance and walking capacity within the clinic setting in ambulatory
children with cerebral palsy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Gait
analysis, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and self-selected walking speed (WS) were
conducted in laboratory and clinic settings. Activity monitoring was done in
participants' community environment. PARTICIPANTS: Children with cerebral palsy
(N=55; age range, 6-18y) with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I
to III. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The GDI was derived
from gait analysis data as a measure of overall gait impairment; an activity
monitor was used to capture community walking performance, and the 6MWT and WS
were the clinic-based measures of walking capacity. RESULTS: Fifty-five children
had a median GDI of 78.86 (range, 53.07-105.34). A moderate association was found
between the GDI and daily step count (Spearman rho=.58; 95% confidence interval
[CI], .37-.74; P<.0001). Weaker associations were found between the GDI and 6MWT
(Spearman rho=.4718; 95% CI, .2283-.6597; P<.0003) and between the GDI and WS
(Spearman rho=.3949; 95% CI, .1368-.6028; P<.0028). CONCLUSIONS: The GDI has a
moderate association with daily step count, which suggests that interventions
that positively change gait kinematics may also affect community walking
performance. Although the GDI's deviation from the normal value provides valuable
information, other measures are required to provide a complete picture of a
child's walking capacity and performance.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS