Development, intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of “BalanceGrid and WalkMeter”, clinically feasible tools to measure limits of balance stability and spatial-temporal gait parameters in people post stroke.

Suruliraj Karthikbabu; Shikha Chaudhary; Nafeez Syed; M Chakrapani; Sailakshmi Ganeshan; E Ratnavalli

doi:10.34058/njmr.v18i2.130

Suruliraj Karthikbabu School Of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University
Shikha Chaudhary School Of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University
Nafeez Syed School Of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University
M Chakrapani Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore
Sailakshmi Ganeshan Physiotherapy, KMC, Manipal University, Mangalore
E Ratnavalli Neurology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34058/njmr.v18i2.130

Keywords: Reliability, Internal consistency, Balance, Gait, Stroke

Abstract

Background: Laboratory tools such as force platform, posturography, and Gaitrite provide precise and accurate information, but are limited in availability due to their high cost and required skilled work force. This necessitates the need for relatively inexpensive, simple and clinically accessible tools to measure the limits of stability and spatial-temporal gait parameters in people post stroke and to establish psychometric properties.

Objective: To develop and determine the internal consistency, intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of BalanceGrid and WalkMeter systems in people post stroke.

Methods: The BalanceGrid system consists of subject and grid interface and the WalkMeter system consists of a 10-meter walkway, a video camera and motion picture analysis software. The applicability of the tools was tested in 40 age-matched healthy volunteers. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), intra-rater and inter-rater reliability (ICC) of the BalanceGrid and WalkMeter tools were established in 47 people post stroke by two raters.

Results: Internal consistency reliability of BalanceGrid and WalkMeter systems was 0.94- 0.99 and 0.86-0.99, respectively. Both the clinical tools showed high intra-rater and inter-rater reliability, with an ICC of 0.82-0.99.

Conclusion: With the high reliability of the BalanceGrid and WalkMeter systems, we recommend these tools to screen and measure the balance and gait in people post stroke.

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