Proposal and validation of a new functional ambulation classification scale for clinical use.

OBJECTIVE

To validate a new functional ambulation classification.

DESIGN

Validity study.

SETTING

In- and outpatients of a district hospital rehabilitation service.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-one patients with poststroke hemiplegic gait disorders compared with a control group of 5 healthy people. Interventions Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Three independent examiners assessed the functional ambulation levels of each patient in blind trials. Interrater reliability was analyzed among the examiners. Walking velocity (slow, normal, fast) was measured with a manual chronometer, and the number of steps taken over a 48-hour period was recorded with a step counter. The linear correlation was calculated from among functional level classification, walking velocity, and the number of steps taken.

RESULTS

There was a good interrater reliability among the examiners (kappa=.74). A significant association and a linear correlation were found between functional ambulation level, walking velocity, and the number of steps taken.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed classification is reliable and valid for determining the different levels of walking abilities.