Functional Walking Test (FWT): Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
[[File:Child tiptoes.jpg|right|frameless|250x250px]] | [[File:Child tiptoes.jpg|right|frameless|250x250px]] | ||
The Functional Walking Test (FWT) | The Functional Walking Test (FWT) is a simple tool used to measure functional mobility in children with [[Cerebral Palsy Introduction|Cerebral Palsy (CP)]]. The Functional Walking Test was developed to assess balance associated with walking, and to analyze and measure the functional walking ability in children. <ref name=":0">Quinn Aoife, O'Regan Myra, Horgan Frances. Psychometric evaluation of the functional walking test for children with cerebral palsy. Disability and Rehabilitation. 2011:33(25–26): 2397–2403.</ref> | ||
It was developed since scales such as the [[Gross Motor Function Measure|Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)]], the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS), and the [[Berg Balance Scale|Berg Balance Scale (BBS)]], all lack qualities that were directed towards higher functioning children with cerebral palsy, higher level of gross motor ability, or limitations for children with [[hemiplegia]]. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
A 'functional walk' can be classified as the ability to stop, start, turn, and get into a position. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Audience == | |||
It is expected that all the items on the test can be performed by a 4-year old without motor impairments. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Development of the Functional Walking Test == | == Development of the Functional Walking Test == | ||
The | The scale was initially developed in several stages. It was primarily developed as an ordinal scale, from a focus group of clinicians and therapists who identified characteristics and items of functional walking. Subsequent to this, items were removed and reliability testing was conducted. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
[[File:Child stairs.jpg|right|frameless|240x240px]] | |||
The Functional Walking Test consists of 11 tests, divided into 5 categories: <ref name=":0" /> | |||
* Kneeling | |||
* Standing from kneeling | |||
* Standing | |||
* [[Gait Analysis in Cerebral Palsy|Walking]] | |||
* Stairs | |||
Specific rules and guidelines of the test are explained in a manual that comes with the test. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
The maximum score is 23. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
' | Of these five categories, items examined include the ability to walk on one's knees, to ascend and descend an incline, and to walk on a narrow beam. These actions test for aspects of [[balance]] and [[Postural Control|postural control]] necessary for [[gait]]. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
The test is quick and easy to conduct, taking less than 10 minutes to score. It is done on a special scoring template, and takes minimal equipment and space to conduct. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
[[ | == Functional Walking Test (FWT) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) == | ||
The FWT was designed to be a quick and simple assessment of functional walking ability. This is classified to fit within the 'activity' category of the [[International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)|International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)]]. It's specific purpose is to assess physical function and balance associated with gait, without targeting any other areas of gross motor function. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
It does not address any other aspects of the ICF, such as, Bodily Structure and Function, or Participation. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
When a more holistic profile of a child is needed, the FWT can be administered with other measure or tests, which address the other respective aspects of the ICF. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Reliability and Validity == | == Reliability and Validity == | ||
To assess the reliability and validity of the Functional Walking Test, it was compared to sections D and E of the GMFM. The GMFM is a clinical measure that was intended to test for changes in gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. The GMFM is a scale used as a benchmark, which has gone through various tests of reliability and validity. When a test and retest, of the FWT and the GMFM, at a future date, were compared. The tests using the FWT had a high correlation in relation to the GMFM, which indicated that the FWT had a high reliability and validity. Correlation values were 0.86 and 0.87 at two different times, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.76 indicating a strong association. It was seen that subjects achieved less than the top score when completing the FWT, whereas they would easily achieve the top score when completing the GMFM. This indicates that the FWT may be presenting more challenging tasks than the GMFM. <ref name=":0" /> | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
Latest revision as of 10:58, 6 July 2023
Original Editor - Kapil Narale
Top Contributors - Kapil Narale, Aya Alhindi and Kim Jackson
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The Functional Walking Test (FWT) is a simple tool used to measure functional mobility in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The Functional Walking Test was developed to assess balance associated with walking, and to analyze and measure the functional walking ability in children. [1]
It was developed since scales such as the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), the Functional Mobility Scale (FMS), and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), all lack qualities that were directed towards higher functioning children with cerebral palsy, higher level of gross motor ability, or limitations for children with hemiplegia. [1]
A 'functional walk' can be classified as the ability to stop, start, turn, and get into a position. [1]
Audience[edit | edit source]
It is expected that all the items on the test can be performed by a 4-year old without motor impairments. [1]
Development of the Functional Walking Test[edit | edit source]
The scale was initially developed in several stages. It was primarily developed as an ordinal scale, from a focus group of clinicians and therapists who identified characteristics and items of functional walking. Subsequent to this, items were removed and reliability testing was conducted. [1]
The Functional Walking Test consists of 11 tests, divided into 5 categories: [1]
- Kneeling
- Standing from kneeling
- Standing
- Walking
- Stairs
Specific rules and guidelines of the test are explained in a manual that comes with the test. [1]
The maximum score is 23. [1]
Of these five categories, items examined include the ability to walk on one's knees, to ascend and descend an incline, and to walk on a narrow beam. These actions test for aspects of balance and postural control necessary for gait. [1]
The test is quick and easy to conduct, taking less than 10 minutes to score. It is done on a special scoring template, and takes minimal equipment and space to conduct. [1]
Functional Walking Test (FWT) and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)[edit | edit source]
The FWT was designed to be a quick and simple assessment of functional walking ability. This is classified to fit within the 'activity' category of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF). It's specific purpose is to assess physical function and balance associated with gait, without targeting any other areas of gross motor function. [1]
It does not address any other aspects of the ICF, such as, Bodily Structure and Function, or Participation. [1]
When a more holistic profile of a child is needed, the FWT can be administered with other measure or tests, which address the other respective aspects of the ICF. [1]
Reliability and Validity[edit | edit source]
To assess the reliability and validity of the Functional Walking Test, it was compared to sections D and E of the GMFM. The GMFM is a clinical measure that was intended to test for changes in gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. The GMFM is a scale used as a benchmark, which has gone through various tests of reliability and validity. When a test and retest, of the FWT and the GMFM, at a future date, were compared. The tests using the FWT had a high correlation in relation to the GMFM, which indicated that the FWT had a high reliability and validity. Correlation values were 0.86 and 0.87 at two different times, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.76 indicating a strong association. It was seen that subjects achieved less than the top score when completing the FWT, whereas they would easily achieve the top score when completing the GMFM. This indicates that the FWT may be presenting more challenging tasks than the GMFM. [1]
