The Effectiveness of Three Teaching Methods for Gait Analysis Using the Rancho Los Amigos Gait Analysis Checklist

Abstract

The development of effective observational gait analysis skills allows physical therapist students to make successful clinical decisions and provide appropriate treatment strategies for optimum patient function. This study compared three methods of teaching gait analysis to entry-level physical therapist students. Forty-nine first-year physical therapist students were placed into one of three research groups: (1) explanation of the Rancho Los Amigos (RLA) tool only, (2) explanation of the RLA tool and application of the tool utilizing a videotape of normal gait, and (3) explanation of the RLA tool and application of the tool using a volunteer with normal gait in real time. All students and “master clinicians” then viewed the gait of two subjects (a volunteer with no known gait deviations and a patient with multiple sclerosis) in real time. Students who viewed the videotape demonstrated greater agreement with “master clinicians” in scoring on the RLA gait analysis form than did those students who had an explanation of the RLA form only and those students who observed the volunteer subject in real time. Students showed greater agreement with “master clinicians” in scoring gait deviations in the patient with multiple sclerosis. Additionally, students showed inconsistent scoring of gait deviations at the pelvis for both subjects during all phases of gait. “Master clinicians” showed strong agreement in scoring gait deviations for the patient with multiple sclerosis but had poor interrater reliability in rating the volunteer subject. The results of this study suggest that videotape training on the RLA gait analysis form by physical therapist students provides consistent performance in evaluating gait deviations of patients with neurological disorders.