Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)

gait and pivot turn instructions

"begin walking at your normal pace. when I tell you, "turn and stop", turn as quickly as you can to face the opposite direction and stop"

gait with eyes closed

"walk at your normal speed from here to the next mark with your eyes closed"

ambulating backwards

"walk backwards until I tell you to stop" - assistive device allowed

gait with horizontal head turns

"walk from here to the next mark 20 ft away. Begin walking at your normal pace. Keep walking straight; after 3 steps turn your head to the right and keep walking straight looking right. after 3 more steps, turn your head to the left and keep walking straight while looking left. continue alternating looking right and left every 3 steps until you have completed 2 reps" - AD allowed

gait with vertical head turns

"walk from here to the next mark 20 ft away. Begin walking at your normal pace. Keep walking stright, after 3 steps tip your head up and keep walking straight while looking up. After 3 steps, turn your head down and keep walking straight while looking down. Continuing alternating looking up and down every 3 steps until you have completed 2 reps each direction" - AD allowed

steps instructions

"walk up these stairs as you would at home (using rail if needed). at the top turn around and walk down." - can use rail

gait with narrow base of support

- have pt fold arms across chest "walk on the floot with arms folded across chest, feet aligned heel to toe in tandem for 12 feet. the number of steps taken in a straight line are counted for a max of 10 steps"

gait level surface instructions

- marked path of 20 ft long, 12 in width - assistive devices allowed "walk at your normal speed from here to the next mark"

change in gait speed instructions

- marked path of 20 ft, 12 in width - assistive device allowed - "begin walking at your normal pace, when I tell you 'go', walk as fast as you can. when I tell you 'slow', walk as slowly as you can"

step over obstacle instructions

- start with 2 shoeboxes then try one "begin walking at your normal pace. when you come to the shoebox, step over it, not around it, and keep walking"

scoring scale

0-3 ordinal scale

items the specify the use of an assistive device

1. gait level surface 2. change in gait speed 3. gait with horizontal head turns 4. gait with vertical head turns

how many items are measured? What does this test assess?

10 items, postural stability during walking and motor tasks while walking

time takes to administer

10-20 minutes

non-specific cut-off score for fall risk

</= 22/30 is a fall risk

Parkinson's Disease cut-off scores

<15/30 is fall risk, <18/30 fall risk among inpatients

are assistive devices allowed?

Yes, but must be documented. Some items do not specify use of AD so the pt should be tested without.

equipment needed to set-up

obstacle of 9 in height (2 shoeboxes), steps (7 3/4 -9 in high with bilateral rails), stopwatch

is this a core measure?

yes