Citation

Guzik A, Drużbicki M, Wolan-Nieroda A, Przysada G, Kwolek A. Gait Posture 2019; 68: 453-457.

Affiliation

Institute of Physiotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Rzeszow, Hoffmanowej 25, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland; Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Warzywna 1a, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland. Electronic address: kwoleka@o2.pl.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.12.036

PMID

30599331

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) is an observational tool for the evaluation of gait quality in individuals after stroke with hemiplegia. It is divided into four subscales, which assess a total of fourteen spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters of gait observed during the consecutive gait phases. However, the WGS score change indicative of important and clinically meaningful change has not been determined. RESEARCH QUESTION: The study has been designed to define the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the WGS.

METHODS: Four methods were used to determine the MCID for the WGS in 50 participants who had experienced a stroke: anchor-based study, distribution-based study, linear regression analysis and specification of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS: In the anchor-based study, the mean change score in the MCID group was 1.9 points (the first MCID estimate). In the distribution-based study, the standard error of measurement for the no-change group was 0.3 (the second MCID estimate). The slope of the regression line was 1.21 which means than 1-point change in the Barthel Index (BI) is associated with 1.21-point change in the WGS. This translates to 2.25 points change in the WGS with 1.85 points change in the BI (the third MCID estimate). The best cut-off point, determined with ROC curve, was the value corresponding to 1 point of change in the WGS (the fourth MCID estimate). SIGNIFICANCE: We established that the MCID of the WGS was 2.25 points, based on the largest of the four MCID estimates. The value 2.25 of the MCID can help clinicians and researchers determine if the change in the scores on the WGS is clinically important. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Data are parts of the following clinical trial: ACTRN12617000436370.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Gait; Hemiplegia; Minimal clinically important difference; Stroke