Development and Reliability of an Observational Gait Analysis Tool for Children with Down Syndrome

Abstract

To develop an observational gait analysis tool for children with Down syndrome and to examine its reliability. Two physical therapists and 5 physical therapy students participated in this study. Sixty videos were examined to determine interrater reliability. Four months later, 15 of those 60 videos were reexamined twice (2 weeks apart) by the students for intrarater reliability. Intraclass correlation coefficients for interrater and intrarater reliability, percentage of agreement, and standard error of measurement were calculated. Interrater reliability was 0.663, intrarater reliability was 0.616-0.877, standard error of measurement was 1.89, and absolute agreement was found for 35.56% of the trials. Good reliability was found, but further study is needed to determine validity and clinical relevance.