Utilization of the Pediatric Modified Dynamic Gait Index: Issues Related to Child Development

Abstract

Aims: This cross-sectional study investigated how typically developing children performed on a version of the Dynamic Gait Index, modified for children (Pediatric Modified DGI). Methods: Seventy-four typically developing children, ages 7–18 years, were evaluated using the Pediatric Modified DGI. Scores were analyzed in three age groups using descriptive statistics for age-related performance. The Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to evaluate group differences. Results: Children performed differently on the Pediatric Modified DGI between the three groups (Kruskal–Wallis H(2) = 18.819, p < .05). Mann–Whitney U post hoc testing identified significant differences between the 7 to 10 and the 15 to 18-year-old groups (U = 128.5, p = .000, r = –.54) and between the 11 to 14 and the 15 to 18-year-old groups (U = 139, p = .001, r = –.46). Pediatric modified DGI scores were notably different between the three age groups on three of the items: horizontal head turn, vertical head turn, and pivot turn. Conclusions: Children’s age appears to impact performance on the pediatric modified DGI, which should be considered when using this tool to examine functional mobility. Future studies should explore functional mobility assessments that consider sensory system development.

Keywords:

• Development
• DGI
• functional gait
• mobility
• sensory systems

View correction statement:

Correction

Acknowledgments

Participating Investigator: Erica Jones, PT, DPT. Dr. Jones participated in development of the proposal, literature review, and scoring of motor assessments. We thank the owners and children of Pediatric Rehabilitation Services for generously sharing their space for this study. We thank all of the children and their families who participated in this study. Without your contributions, this valuable research would not be possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

About the Authors

Deborah Anderson, PT, EdD, PCS, is the Program Director and an Associate Professor of Physical Therapy at Midwestern University.

Donna Cech, PT, DHS, PCS (retired) was the Program Director and a Professor of Physical Therapy at Midwestern University at the time of this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded in part through a Midwestern University College of Health Science Faculty Research Facilitation Grant.