PMID- 29324509
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20200710
LR  - 20200710
IS  - 2152-0895 (Electronic)
IS  - 1539-8412 (Linking)
VI  - 42
IP  - 4
DP  - 2019 Oct/Dec
TI  - Investigating the Relationship of the Functional Gait Assessment to 
      Spatiotemporal Parameters of Gait and Quality of Life in Individuals With Stroke.
PG  - 256-264
LID - 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000173 [doi]
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Walking in the community is an important aspect of 
      independence and quality of life (QOL) that poses challenges for individuals with 
      stroke. This study investigated whether performance on the Functional Gait 
      Assessment (FGA) differentiated spatiotemporal gait parameters, QOL, and fall 
      history of community-ambulating individuals with stroke. We hypothesized that 
      those scoring higher on the FGA would present with better gait speed and cadence, 
      stride width and length, and improved load time on the paretic limb, report a 
      higher QOL, and be less likely to have a fall history than those who scored lower 
      on the FGA. METHODS: Participants were screened for cognitive impairment and the 
      ability to walk independently. Participant demographics and stroke 
      characteristics were recorded. The Falls Risk for Older People in the Community 
      (FROP-Com) screening tool determined whether the participant had incurred 1 or 
      more falls within the preceding 12 months. The FGA provided a composite measure 
      of gait with varied walking tasks challenging different aspects of walking. The 
      total score was recorded. The GAITRite instrumented-walkway was used to acquire 
      high-resolution footfall data during performance of the first 9 FGA walking 
      tasks. The Assessment of Quality of Life-6D (AQoL-6D) was used to measure 
      health-related QOL across the domains of independent living, mental health, 
      coping, relationships, pain, and senses. Pearson and Spearman correlations were 
      used to check for correlations between FGA score and the demographic 
      characteristics, AQoL-6D scores, and 12-month fall history. Pearson correlations 
      were used to check for correlations between FGA score and multiple spatiotemporal 
      gait parameters for each FGA item. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A sample of 29 
      volunteers who were community-ambulating individuals with stroke was recruited. 
      Participants had a mean age of 62.31 (10.89) years, mean time since stroke of 
      3.78 (4.10) years, and included both males and females (52% male). Individuals 
      presented with both left- and right-sided strokes. FGA score correlated 
      positively with velocity, cadence, and step length, and negatively with stride 
      width, double-support percent, and single-support variability (P = .001 to P = 
      .031). FGA score correlated positively with the AQoL-6D dimension of independent 
      living. FGA score correlated significantly with the FROP-Com screening tool 
      predicted fall risk, but not with fall history. CONCLUSIONS: The FGA is a 
      clinical measure of functional gait performance that reflected spatiotemporal 
      gait parameters and ability of individuals with chronic stroke to live 
      independently. The FGA could be used to target interventions to improve 
      functional gait performance of individuals with chronic stroke.
FAU - Price, Richard
AU  - Price R
AD  - School of Physiotherapy, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
FAU - Choy, Nancy Low
AU  - Choy NL
AD  - School of Physiotherapy, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia.
AD  - Department of Physiotherapy, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - J Geriatr Phys Ther
JT  - Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001)
JID - 101142169
SB  - IM
MH  - Adaptation, Psychological
MH  - Aged
MH  - Aged, 80 and over
MH  - Female
MH  - Gait/*physiology
MH  - Geriatric Assessment/*methods
MH  - Humans
MH  - Interpersonal Relations
MH  - Male
MH  - Mental Health
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Physical Therapy Modalities
MH  - *Quality of Life
MH  - Stroke/*physiopathology
MH  - Stroke Rehabilitation
MH  - Walking
EDAT- 2018/01/13 06:00
MHDA- 2020/07/11 06:00
CRDT- 2018/01/12 06:00
PHST- 2018/01/13 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2020/07/11 06:00 [medline]
PHST- 2018/01/12 06:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000173 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2019 Oct/Dec;42(4):256-264. doi: 
      10.1519/JPT.0000000000000173.