Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to measure test-retest repeatability of a patients gait to determine whether the effect of yoked prism on gait provides a repeatable measurement utilizing a recording device called GaitRite.
Methods:
Fifteen adults with normal vision under the age of thirty (Group A (mean age = 26.25 +/-1.5 yrs)), 15 adults with normal vision ages 30-50 (Group B, mean age 37.42 +/-4.2) and 10 adults with normal vision ages 50 and above (Group C, mean age 54.21 +/- 3.2) had to walk on a GaitRite mat while wearing three different powers of yoked prism, 4, 8, and 12. Each measurement was repeated 3 times. Thedirection of the yoked prism was randomly assigned at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330 and 360 degrees. All patients performed a total of 111 walks.
Results:
Test-retest reliability was confirmed utilizing ANOVA analysis. Test Retest of 20 different measurements (that are automatically recorded on GaitRite Mat) were analyzed e.g. heel to toe distance, cycle time, gait stride L and Right etc. Rho for group A ranged from 82-94%, Group B ranged from 81 to 96%, and R for Group C ranged from 58 to 82%. All findings were repeatable.
Conclusions:
Using statistical analysis we were able to confirm the intra repeatability of the effect of prism on gait, utilizing novel technology like a GaitRite. Utilizing yoked prism to correct posture in patients with acquired/traumatic brain injury is one of the most recent advances in perceptual rehabilitation, this notion that we can actually record footsteps and analyze gait utilizing GaitRite technology can help us standardize the way we prescribe prism to patients with altered gait. Our data shows lower repeatability for normal patients 50 years of age and above, from this we can conclude that in the case of patients who are older; more than three walks might be indicated to obtain consistency due to increase variability in gait due to age.