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Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
The Utility of Gait Deviation Index (GDI) and Gait Variability Index (GVI) in Detecting Gait Changes in Spastic
Majewska Joanna1, Szczepanik Magdalena1, Bazarnik-Mucha Katarzyna1
1Institute of Health Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszow, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland.
Insights
Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) significantly improve gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP), enhancing spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters. Gait deviation index (GDI) and gait variability index (GVI) effectively reflect these positive changes.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanical analysis
- Pediatric orthopedics
- Rehabilitation engineering
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) in children causes complex motor disorders and gait deviations.
- Clinical gait analysis (CGA) is crucial for managing gait issues in CP.
- Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly used to improve walking ability in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if gait deviation index (GDI) and gait variability index (GVI) reflect changes in spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters in spastic hemiplegic CP children using AFOs.
- To assess the effectiveness of AFOs in modifying gait parameters in CP.
- To determine the utility of GDI and GVI as outcome measures for AFO intervention.
Main Methods:
- 37 children with hemiplegic CP participated in the study.
- Instrumented gait analysis was performed both barefoot and with AFOs during the same CGA session.
- Spatio-temporal and kinematic data were collected, and GVI and GDI were calculated.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters between barefoot and AFO conditions.
- Gait variability index (GVI) and gait deviation index (GDI) also showed statistically significant changes.
- AFO use led to statistically significant improvements in gait parameters.
Conclusions:
- AFOs significantly improve spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters in children with hemiplegic CP.
- GDI and GVI effectively reflect the positive effects of AFOs on gait.
- Gait indices like GDI and GVI may serve as valuable clinical outcome measures for therapeutic interventions in CP.
Background:
Cerebral palsy (CP) children present complex and heterogeneous motor disorders that cause gait deviations. Clinical gait analysis (CGA) is used to identify, understand and support the management of gait deviations in CP. Children with CP often use ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) to facilitate and optimize their walking ability. The aim of this study was to assess whether the gait deviation index (GDI) and the gait variability index (GVI) results can reflect the changes of spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters in spastic hemiplegic CP children wearing AFO.
Method:
The study group consisted of 37 CP children with hemiparesis. All had undergone a comprehensive, instrumented gait analysis while walking, both barefoot and with their AFO, during the same CGA session. Kinematic and spatio-temporal data were collected and GVI and GDI gait indexes were calculated.
Results:
Significant differences were found between the barefoot condition and the AFO conditions for selected spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters. Changes in GVI and GDI were also statistically significant.
Conclusions:
The use of AFO in hemiplegic CP children caused a statistically significant improvement in spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters. It was found that these changes were also reflected by GVI and GDI. These findings might suggest that gait indices, such as GDI and GVI, as clinical outcome measures, may reflect the effects of specific therapeutic interventions in CP children.
