Reference Data for Performances on the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course in Children Developing Typically

Department

Physical Therapy

Document Type

Article

Publication Source

Gait and Posture

Publication Date

2016-9

Volume

49

First Page

398

Last Page

401

Abstract

Purpose: To establish reference performance groups on the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC) a pathway to screen ambulation for children developing typically.

Methods: SWOC tests ambulation under three conditions: walk (W), walk with tray (WT) and walk wearing sunglasses (WG). One trial consisted of standing up, walking the course in one direction and sitting down. Children (n = 355) completed two trials per condition. Trial measures included time to complete (seconds) and numbers of steps, stumbles, and steps off path.

Results: Trial 1 and trial 2 for time and number of steps are significantly different (p = 0.0005), but highly correlated (r = 0.93 and r = 0.96) therefore their average was used to establish reference data. Gender was not a significant factor. Age and height predict performances in all conditions, but measures between age groups were not always significantly different. Significant different measures by height groups could be established across all conditions, therefore reference data was established using three height groups.

Conclusion: Reference values will assist clinicians to compare a child’s performance on the SWOC based on an individual height because this can vary within and between ages thus screening for possible ambulation limitations.

Keywords

ambulation, screening, standardized walking obstacle course, children, height

DOI

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.08.001

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0966-6362(16)30477-5

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