Reliability and Validity of the Functional Gait Assessment: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Aims: The purpose of this systematic review is to assemble the available literature related to the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) for patient populations that have been studied using the FGA. Methods: Studies of a cohort design were examined for reliability or criterion validity of the FGA from four electronic databases using a systematic review process. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The FGA has a high inter-rater reliability across the patient populations studied and has high concurrent validity in patients with Parkinson disease, stroke, and community dwelling older adults. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the FGA is a useful clinical tool for the reported patient populations. Consideration should be given to the quality and limited number of studies included in this systematic review. Further research to enhance the accuracy of these findings is needed, including clearly defining a cut-off score for fall risk.

KEYWORDS:

• Balance
• functional gait assessment (FGA)
• gait
• reliability
• validity