Validating Questionnaires for Lower Limb Rehabilitation Systems and Devices: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Health Sciences

Background:

• Lower limb (LL) rehabilitation increasingly utilizes systems, devices, and exergames.
• Standardized and validated questionnaires are crucial for assessing the efficacy of these technologies.
• A comprehensive understanding of existing validation methods is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of validated questionnaires in lower limb rehabilitation.
• To understand the results of questionnaire validation in this field.
• To identify criteria for evaluating LL rehabilitation systems, devices, and exergames.

Main Methods:

• A PRISMA ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) methodology was employed.
• Extensive database research and study evaluation were performed.
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in 58 final studies.

Main Results:

• The review distinguishes between standardized and non-standardized validating questionnaires.
• Standardized questionnaires undergo rigorous statistical validation for reliability and consistency.
• Compiled information offers a basis for selecting and evaluating validation instruments.

Conclusions:

• This review provides a reliable reference for selecting appropriate instruments in LL rehabilitation research.
• It aids in comparing results across different studies and technologies.
• The findings are valuable for researchers and clinicians in the field of LL rehabilitation technology.