Identifying methods for quantifying lower limb changes in children with idiopathic toe walking: A systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Orthopedics
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a diagnosis of exclusion in children with no identifiable medical cause for their gait.
• Evaluating outcome measures for ITW is crucial for understanding treatment efficacy and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the clinical utility, validity, and reliability of outcome measures used in studies of children with ITW.
• To identify current assessment tools and their psychometric properties for quantifying lower limb changes in ITW.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, etc.) was conducted up to March 2018.
• Studies including children with ITW, reporting measurement tools for lower limb characteristics, and published in English were included.
• Psychometric properties (reliability, validity) and risk of bias were assessed for included measurement tools.

Main Results:

• 27 different measurement tools were identified across various domains including range of motion, gait analysis, and strength.
• The Alvarez classification tool with the Vicon motion system was frequently used for gait description.
• Limited reporting on the reliability and validity of many outcome measures was observed.

Conclusions:

• A consensus statement is recommended to guide the selection of outcome measures for ITW.
• Standardized outcome measures will facilitate consistent data collection for future clinical trials and systematic reviews.