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Updated: May 31, 2026
Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
Implementation of a gait and balance battery of outcome measures in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital
Leah Ling1,2, Randy Carson2, Geneviève N Olivier1
1Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, United States.
Importance:
Standardized outcome measure batteries are important for tracking functional progress, enhancing communication among providers, and evaluating intervention effectiveness in physical therapy. However, implementation of standardized batteries is challenging due to time constraints, documentation requirements, and limited resources.
Objective:
The objective was to evaluate the implementation of a standardized gait and balance outcome measure battery by physical therapists for patients with stroke, brain injury, and spinal cord injury in the inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) setting.
Design:
This study used a retrospective cohort study of 773 episodes of care at the IRF, and a quantitative survey for 22 staff physical therapists at the IRF.
Setting:
This study was conducted at a 50-bed IRF in the United States.
Interventions:
A standardized outcome measure battery with 5 measures (10 Meter Walk Test, 6 Minute Walk Test, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Gait Assessment, and 5 Times Sit to Stand) was implemented by all physical therapist teams at the IRF.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
The main implementation outcomes were Penetration and Sustainability, assessed with retrospective cohort data, and Acceptability and Feasibility, assessed with the quantitative survey of physical therapists.
Results:
There was a significant improvement in the completion rates of all 5 outcome measures, with most measures exceeding a 70% completion rate threshold 1 year after implementation. Completion rates of the entire battery did not reach 70%. Physical therapists indicated that implementation of the battery resulted in positive practice changes, and that barriers to completion were patients' functional levels and the time required for completion.
Conclusions:
Implementation of a standardized outcome measure battery is feasible in the IRF setting. However, outcome measure completion rates may improve with a more condensed battery and with integration into clinical workflows.
Relevance:
This study provides a practical model for IRFs to adopt and evaluate standardized outcome measure batteries that improve physical therapists' ability to assess physical function across health systems and settings.