Article

This article describes a conglomerate measure of gait variability based on nine
spatiotemporal parameters: the Gait Variability Index (GVI). Concurrent validity,
inter-session reliability and minimum detectable change (MDC) were evaluated in
31 patients with Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA), through comparisons with classically
used evaluation tools such as the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale
(ICARS). GVI scores for the healthy population were 100.3+/-8.6 and were
significantly reduced in FRDA patients (70.4+/-7.9). The GVI was correlated with
the global ICARS score and was sensitive enough to differentiate between groups
of FRDA patients categorized by the Posture and Gait Disturbances sub-score. The
GVI was found to have a high inter-session reliability with an intraclass
correlation coefficient of 0.91. A MDC of 8.6 points was found necessary to
ensure that a change in GVI reflects a true change rather than measurement error.
The GVI provides a quantitative measure of variability which behaves well
statistically in both HP and patients with FRDA. It can be easily implemented
using the supplemental data provided with this article. Complementary work is
necessary to strengthen the GVI validation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS