Gait & Posture
Volume 32, Issue 4 , Pages 508-511, October 2010

The Toe Walking Tool: A novel method for assessing idiopathic toe walking children

  • Cylie M. Williams

      Affiliations

    • Southern Health, Cardinia Casey Community Health Service, 140-155 Sladen St., Locked Bag 2500, Cranbourne, VIC 3977, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 3 5990 6789; fax: +61 3 5990 6207.
    • ,
  • Paul Tinley

      Affiliations

    • Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Thurgoona, NSW 2640, Australia
    • ,
  • Michael Curtin

      Affiliations

    • Occupational Therapy, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury, NSW 2640, Australia

Received 17 April 2010; received in revised form 10 July 2010; accepted 13 July 2010. published online 09 August 2010.

Abstract 

Background

The diagnosis of idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is achieved by the exclusion of all medical causes associated with toe walking. In order to identify children with this gait type, an online Toe Walking Tool questionnaire was developed that utilized questions to identify healthy idiopathic toe walkers and excluded those who toe walk as a result of a medical condition.

Method

A Delphi panel process was conducted to establish the relevance and validity of the questions. A group of 10 allied health professionals assessed 12 children utilizing the Toe Walking Tool. A kappa was calculated to determine reliability.

Results

Clinicians agreed the questionnaire was an appropriate and effective assessment tool. The tool proved valid in that no child tested who toe walked as a result of a medical condition was able to progress through the testing process. Testing group of practitioners had a Fleiss Kappa agreement of 0.928.

Conclusion

The Toe Walking Tool is a valid and reliable method of assessing children who present to the general allied health clinician with toe walking. This tool can assist with the decision of when to refer a child for further specialist investigation of their toe walking.

Keywords: Gait, Pediatrics, Idiopathic toe walking

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PII: S0966-6362(10)00215-8

doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2010.07.011

Refers to corrigendum:

  • Corrigendum to “The Toe Walking Tool: A novel method for assessing idiopathic toe walking children” [Gait Posture 32 (2010) 508–511]

    Cylie M. Williams, Paul Tinley, Michael Curtin
    Gait & Posture July 2011 (Vol. 34, Issue 3, Page 442)

Gait & Posture
Volume 32, Issue 4 , Pages 508-511, October 2010

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