Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation, Tokyo General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| [b] Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Yu Kitaji, Department of Rehabilitation, Tokyo General Hospital, 3-15-2 Egota, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, 165-8906, Japan. Tel.: +81 333875421; Fax: +81 333875403; E-mail: kitaji_you@yahoo.co.jp.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Clinical gait analysis of sagittal plane lower-limb kinematics using video images is a quantitative tool for clinicians. However, the reliability and validity of limb kinematics after stroke using video images has not been fully investigated. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to examine the within-session inter-rater reliability and criterion-related validity of lower limb angles measured in sagittal plane images captured using a smartphone for assessing post-stroke gait and to determine which asymmetric parameters are associated with faster gait velocity. METHODS:Thirty-two patients with stroke were included; video images were recorded as they walked at their preferred pace for 1–3 cycles. Lower limb angles (contact, push-off, and excursion angles) and degree of asymmetry were determined based on video images using markers of acromion, greater trochanter, and fifth metatarsal head. Measurement reliability was calculated using the two-way random effects model of intraclass correlation coefficients and minimal detectable change. The criterion validity investigated Pearson’s correlation between lower limb angles and their asymmetry and gait velocity. RESULTS:The lower value of the 95% confidence interval of intraclass correlation coefficients (2.3) of the lower limb was 0.891, and the maximum minimal detectable change was 9.6 degrees. Push-off angle showed a moderate-to-strong correlation with gait velocity, whereas the asymmetry of the push-off angle showed a weak correlation with gait velocity. CONCLUSIONS:Assessing post-stroke gait utilizing video images using a smartphone is feasible. The push-off angle, in particular, may provide insight into the clinical assessment of post-stroke gait.
Keywords: Gait analysis, gait kinematics, stroke rehabilitation, video recording, reliability
