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Clinical gait assessment: a personal view
Journal of Medical Engineering & Technology
|November 1, 1983
Summary
Establishing a clinical gait assessment laboratory requires careful management. Gait assessment integrates data for clinical decisions, moving beyond simple gait analysis to understand complex body mechanics and causes.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Assessment
- Rehabilitation Engineering
Background:
- Clinical gait assessment laboratories face challenges in establishment and management.
- Current practices often conflate 'gait analysis' (data gathering) with 'gait assessment' (clinical decision-making).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore challenges in clinical gait assessment laboratory management.
- To differentiate and define 'gait analysis' and 'gait assessment' for improved clinical utility.
- To propose strategies for more effective clinical decision-making based on gait data.
Main Methods:
- Exploration of problems in establishing and managing clinical gait assessment laboratories.
- Conceptual distinction between gait analysis (data collection) and gait assessment (integrated decision-making).
- Consideration of system interference and computer-aided decision programs for identifying causal factors.
Main Results:
- Gait analysis measures combined effects and compensatory actions, complicating direct cause identification.
- Effective gait assessment necessitates integrating gait analysis data with other clinical information.
- A theoretical framework and systematic testing are crucial for identifying gait dysfunction causes.
Conclusions:
- Distinguishing gait analysis from gait assessment is vital for clinical practice.
- A holistic, multi-device approach to studying the entire body is recommended.
- Enhanced collaboration between clinicians and bioengineers is needed for optimal patient outcomes.