Reliability and Validity of the Dynamic Gait Index in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a childhood onset, lifelong neurological disorder, attributed to non-progressive injury of the fetal or immature brain. It causes movement deterioration and activity limitation. In CP patients increase in slow walking speed, shorter step length, and longer duration in the double support phase are common. Such gait changes are thought to reflect the unbalanced walking pattern seen in these children. Although children with CP are well known to have poor balance and high fall incidence, little effort has been made to quantify the dynamic walking stability of these children.

The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) is a performance-based tool developed by Shumway-Cook and Woollacott to quantitatively measure dynamic balance capabilities. It also evaluates the individual's ability to modify gait in response to changing gait task requirements. Despite it's widespread use in the elderly population, DGI has not yet been investigated in children with neurological conditions. Considering that it takes a little time to apply the test, it may be advantageous for children in terms of simplicity and ease of administration.

In this study the investigators aim to validate and assess interrater and test - retest reliabilities of Turkish version of Dynamic Gait Index in children with unilateral, spastic cerebral palsy.