Evaluation of an activity monitor for the objective measurement of free-living physical activity in children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To explore the use of an activity monitor (AM) to objectively characterize free-living physical activity (F-LPA) in children with mobility impairment resulting from cerebral palsy (CP).

Design: First, a validation study compared outcomes from the AM with video evidence. Second, multiday F-LPA was characterized.

Repeatability of a new observational gait score for unilateral lower limb amputees.

The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability of an observational gait analysis score that was developed specifically for unilateral amputees. Ten videotaped sequences were analysed by six experienced observers on two separate occasions. Data were analysed using percentage agreement, the kappa statistic and the coefficient of repeatability.

Development of temporal and distance parameters of gait in normal children.

Temporal and distance parameters of 33 normal children were obtained from instrumented gait analysis prospectively over five consecutive years. The parameters were normalised to minimise the confounding effects of increasing height and leg length. Rank correlations were performed on normalised speed, normalised stride length, normalised cadence and normalised walk ratio across consecutive pairs of years to examine the ranking of these parameters for an individual child over time.