Reproducibility and validity of video screen measurements of gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy☆

Abstract 

Purpose

To determine the reproducibility and validity of video screen measurement (VSM) of sagittal plane joint angles during gait.

Methods

17 children with spastic cerebral palsy walked on a 10m walkway. Videos were recorded and 3d-instrumented gait analysis was performed. Two investigators measured six sagittal joint/segment angles (shank, ankle, knee, hip, pelvis, and trunk) using a custom-made software package. The intra- and interrater reproducibility were expressed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurements (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD). The agreement between VSM and 3d joint angles was illustrated by Bland–Altman plots and limits of agreement (LoA).

Results

Regarding the intrarater reproducibility of VSM, the ICC ranged from 0.99 (shank) to 0.58 (trunk), the SEM from 0.81° (shank) to 5.97° (trunk) and the SDD from 1.80° (shank) to 16.55° (trunk). Regarding the interrater reproducibility, the ICC ranged from 0.99 (shank) to 0.48 (trunk), the SEM from 0.70° (shank) to 6.78° (trunk) and the SDD from 1.95° (shank) to 18.8° (trunk). The LoA between VSM and 3d data ranged from 0.4±13.4° (knee extension stance) to 12.0±14.6° (ankle dorsiflexion swing).

Conclusion

When performed by the same observer, VSM mostly allows the detection of relevant changes after an intervention. However, VSM angles differ from 3d-IGA and do not reflect the real sagittal joint position, probably due to the additional movements in the other planes.

Keywords: Gait, Observational, Reproducibility, Cerebral palsy