Observational gait analysis in traumatic brain injury: Accuracy of clinical judgment

Abstract

Objective: To determine the accuracy of clinicians' visual observations of gait disorders following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: 30 ambulant participants (sample of convenience) receiving physiotherapy for mobility limitations following TBI and 25 age, height, weight and sex matched healthy unimpaired controls (HC) were recruited. Kinematic and ground reaction force data during gait were captured and video recordings were concurrently collected. Participants with TBI walked at self-selected speed whilst HCs walked at preferred speed as well as the mean TBI speed for comparison. 40 doctors, experienced physiotherapists, new graduate physiotherapists and novices were observers. Each ..