Minimal clinically important difference of the gait assessment and intervention tool for adults with stroke

BACKGROUND The Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (GAIT) provides a valid and reliable gait quality measure for adults with stroke, however a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is yet to be determined. RESEARCH QUESTION What is the GAIT MCID in community dwelling adults with a stroke diagnosis? METHODS The GAIT scores for a consecutive series of 63 adults with stroke, referred for video gait assessment within an outpatient rehabilitation program, were retrospectively identified from a gait laboratory database. Patients were classified by Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) and had walking speed measured, which classified them into one of three walking speed-based ambulatory levels (I.e. household, limited community or community ambulator). Linear regression models were fitted to assess the association between GAIT score and FAC level and GAIT score and ambulatory level. MCIDs were determined based on estimates calculated in the two models RESULTS: The FAC of patients ranged from 3 to 5. GAIT score was negatively correlated with FAC level and ambulatory level (ρ = -0.73, p