Concurrent Validity of Two Gait Performance Measures in Children with Neuromotor Disorders

ABSTRACT

Aims: To investigate the concurrent validity of two mobility performance measures, the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) and the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire – walking scale (FAQ) in an inpatient pediatric neurorehabilitation setting. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected on 71 children (mean age 12.7 years) with neuromotor gait impairments who participated in an inpatient rehabilitation program to evaluate aspects of concurrent validity of the FMS and FAQ. Physiotherapists independently performed ratings. Comparator instruments included the walking item of the Functional Independence Measure for children, 10-m and 6-minute walking tests, and Gross Motor Function Measure-88 dimension E. All tests were completed within 7 days. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to test a priori formulated hypotheses regarding the strength and direction of the measures relationships. Results: The children had a broad spectrum of mobility levels, including all levels of FMS and levels 2–10 of FAQ. Spearman correlation coefficients with comparator measures varied between 0.58–0.79 for the FMS and 0.69–0.73 for the FAQ. Hypotheses concerning correlation strengths and directions were met for FMS and FAQ. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that the FMS and FAQ are valid to evaluate functional mobility in pediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• functional mobility scale
• Gillette functional Assessment Questionnaire – walking scale
• mobility
• outcome assessment
• psychometric testing
• validity

Disclosure statement

The authors report no potential conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all children and parents who participated in this research project. They also thank the physiotherapists who helped collecting the data.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Mäxi Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland.