Validity of the GAITRite Walkway Compared to Functional Balance Tests for Fall Risk Assessment in Geriatric Outpatients
by
Johannes Riis 1,*, Stephanie M. Byrgesen 1, Kristian H. Kragholm 1, Marianne M. Mørch 2 and Dorte Melgaard 1,3
Johannes Riis 1,*, Stephanie M. Byrgesen 1, Kristian H. Kragholm 1, Marianne M. Mørch 2 and Dorte Melgaard 1,3
1
Center for Clinical Research, North Denmark Regional Hospital, 9800 Hjørring, Denmark
2
Department of Geriatric Medicine, North Denmark Regional Hospital, 9800 Hjørring, Denmark
3
Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Geriatrics 2020, 5(4), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics5040077
Received: 29 August 2020 / Revised: 2 October 2020 / Accepted: 16 October 2020 / Published: 17 October 2020
This study examined the concurrent validity between gait parameters from the GAITRite walkway and functional balance test commonly used in fall risk assessment. Patients were sampled from one geriatric outpatient clinic. One physiotherapist evaluated the patients on the GAITRite walkway with three repetitions in both single- and dual-task conditions. Patients were further evaluated with Bergs Balance scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait index (DGI), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and Sit To Stand test (STS). Correlations between quantitative gait parameters and functional balance test were analyzed with Spearman’s rank correlations. Correlations strength was considered as follows: negligible <0.1, weak 0.10–0.39, moderate 0.40–0.69, and strong ≥0.70. We included 24 geriatric outpatients in the study with a mean age of 80.6 years (SD: 5.9). Patients received eight (SD: 4.5) different medications on average, and seven (29.2%) patients used walkers during ambulation. Correlations between quantitative gait parameters and functional balance test ranged from weak to moderate in both single- and dual-task conditions. Moderate correlations were observed for DGI, TUG, and BBS, while STS showed weak correlations with all GAITRite parameters. For outpatients analyzed on the GAITRite while using walkers, correlations showed no clear pattern across parameters with large variation within balance tests.
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Keywords:
falls; GAITRite; concurrent validity; walking aids
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MDPI and ACS Style
Riis, J.; Byrgesen, S.M.; Kragholm, K.H.; Mørch, M.M.; Melgaard, D. Validity of the GAITRite Walkway Compared to Functional Balance Tests for Fall Risk Assessment in Geriatric Outpatients. Geriatrics 2020, 5, 77.
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