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Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
Interrater reliability of two gait performance measures in children with neuromotor disorders across two different
Corinne Ammann-Reiffer1,2,3, Caroline H G Bastiaenen2, Rob A de Bie2
1Pediatric Rehab Research Group, Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adolescents, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland.
Insights
The Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) and Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) reliably measure gait performance in children with neuromotor disorders. Agreement between parents, physiotherapists, and nurses is substantial, indicating consistent assessment across settings.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Neurology
- Movement Science
Background:
- Gait performance assessment in children with neuromotor disorders is crucial for rehabilitation planning.
- Existing tools require validation for interrater reliability across different healthcare professionals and caregivers.
- Understanding agreement between inpatient and home-based assessments is vital for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the interrater agreement of the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) and Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire - walking scale (FAQ) for assessing gait performance in children with neuromotor disorders.
- To compare agreement levels between health professionals (physiotherapists, nurses) and parents.
- To determine reliability in both inpatient and home environments.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-one children with neuromotor diagnoses participated in the study.
- Physiotherapists and nurses independently scored gait performance using FMS and FAQ during inpatient rehabilitation.
- Parents provided gait performance scores for home settings via interview or telephone.
Main Results:
- Substantial to almost perfect linear weighted kappa coefficients were observed for all FMS and FAQ comparisons.
- Kappa coefficients for FMS ranged from 0.62 to 0.92, and for FAQ ranged from 0.69 to 0.77.
- No significant differences in scores were found between the different rater groups (physiotherapists, nurses, parents).
Conclusions:
- The FMS and FAQ demonstrate high interrater reliability for assessing gait performance in children with neuromotor disorders.
- Reliable agreement exists between health professionals and parents, and across inpatient and home settings.
- These validated scales support consistent and accurate gait assessment for effective rehabilitation strategies.
Aim:
To examine the interrater agreement of the two gait performance measures - the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) and Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire - walking scale (FAQ) - within health professionals and parents in children with neuromotor disorders, measured in an inpatient setting and at home.
Method:
Seventy-one children with a neuromotor diagnosis (44 males, 27 females; median age 12y 11mo [interquartile range 4y-10mo]) were consecutively recruited when starting an inpatient active gait rehabilitation programme. Physiotherapists and nurses independently scored the level of children's gait performance with the FMS and the FAQ, while parents' scores regarding the children's gait performance at home were obtained by interview or telephone call at the same measurement points.
Results:
Linear weighted kappa coefficients were substantial to almost perfect for all comparisons. Kappa coefficients ranged from 0.62 to 0.85 for the FMS-5, from 0.79 to 0.92 for the FMS-50, from 0.83 to 0.90 for the FMS-500, and from 0.69 to 0.77 for the FAQ. Friedman tests did not reveal significant differences between the different rater groups.
Interpretation:
The unexpectedly high level of interrater agreement between parents, physiotherapists, and nurses demonstrates that the FMS and FAQ can reliably assess gait performance in an inpatient setting. Inpatient scores correspond well to the children's performance in their usual environment.
What This Paper Adds:
The Functional Mobility Scale and Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire - walking scale measure gait performance reliably at home and in an inpatient setting. Physiotherapists, nurses, and parents reliably score gait performance. Inpatient gait performance scores correspond well to children's performance at home. Physiotherapists and nurses in an inpatient setting can reliably estimate gait performance at home.
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