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Reliability, Internal Consistency, and Validity of Data Obtained With the Functional Gait Assessment

DM Wrisley, PT, PhD, NCS, is Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, and Physical Therapist, Centers for Rehab Services, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. This work was completed while she was a doctoral student in the Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa, and a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Balance Disorders Laboratory, Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Ore.
GF Marchetti, PT, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Rangos School of Health Professions, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa
DK Kuharsky, SPT, BS, is a physical therapist student in the Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh
SL Whitney, PT, PhD, ATC, NCS, is Assistant Professor, Departments of Physical Therapy and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, and Director of Rehabilitation, Center for Vestibular Disorders, Centers for Rehab Services, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Address all correspondence to Dr Wrisley at Department of Rehabilitation Science, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Kimball Tower, 3435 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214 (USA) (dwrisley{at}buffalo.edu)

Background and Purpose. The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) is a 10-item gait assessment based on the Dynamic Gait Index. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability, internal consistency, and validity of data obtained with the FGA when used with people with vestibular disorders. Subjects. Seven physical therapists from various practice settings, 3 physical therapist students, and 6 patients with vestibular disorders volunteered to participate. Methods. All raters were given 10 minutes to review the instructions, the test items, and the grading criteria for the FGA. The 10 raters concurrently rated the performance of the 6 patients on the FGA. Patients completed the FGA twice, with an hour's rest between sessions. Reliability of total FGA scores was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1). Internal consistency of the FGA was assessed using the Cronbach alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation of the FGA scores with balance and gait measurements. Results. Intraclass correlation coefficients of .86 and .74 were found for interrater and intrarater reliability of the total FGA scores. Internal consistency of the FGA scores was .79. Spearman rank order correlation coefficients of the FGA scores with balance measurements ranged from .11 to .67. Discussion and Conclusion. The FGA demonstrates what we believe is acceptable reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity with other balance measures used for patients with vestibular disorders.

Key Words: Balance • Gait disorders,neurologic • Measurement,applied • Reliability • Validity • Vestibular system

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