Construct validity of the Wisconsin Gait Scale in acute, subacute and chronic stroke

Abstract

Objective: To assess the construct validity of the Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) in subjects after stroke. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted at inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Data from 61 stroke patients was compiled. The Functional Ambulatory Categories (FAC), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS), the Barthel Index (BI) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were selected to analyze the WGS construct validity at four specific time points after stroke (acute, subacute and chronic stages). Spearman correlation coefficients investigated the relationship between WGS and clinical measures. Results: The construct validity of the WGS in patients with stroke at acute stage was moderate with the FAC (r=-.773), the BBS (r=-.676), the PASS (r=-.646) and the FIM (r=-.592). At subacute stage, the construct validity of the WGS was excellent with the FAC (r=-878), the BBS (r=-.882), the PASS (r=-.847) and the BI (r=-.813). The correlation was moderate with the FIM (r=-.693). At six and twelve months, the construct validity of WGS with the FAC, the BBS, the PASS, the BI and the FIM was excellent (r ≥ .8). Conclusion: The WGS has moderate construct validity with walking, balance and functionality scales in patients with acute stroke. The correlation with the FAC, the BBS, the PASS and the BI at subacute and chronic stages was excellent.