Validation of the Gait Disorientation Test in children with concussion

Abdulaziz A Alkathiry; Saud F Alsubaie; Bara A Alsalaheen; Susan L Whitney

doi:10.3389/fped.2022.927708

Validation of the Gait Disorientation Test in children with concussion

Front Pediatr. 2022 Aug 22:10:927708. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.927708. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Abdulaziz A Alkathiry¹, Saud F Alsubaie², Bara A Alsalaheen³, Susan L Whitney⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, MI, United States.
⁴ Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Abstract

Background: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or concussion is a complex injury that is difficult to diagnose and assess. There are negative impacts on cognition, balance, and mobility after a concussion. The Gait Disorientation Test (GDT) is an objective measure that assesses a person's balance ability by comparing the walking time with eyes open and the walking time with eyes closed in a standardized walking task. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and the diagnostic properties of the GDT in children with concussions.

Methods: Thirty-six children with concussions, and 91 controls aged between 9 and 18 years old participated in the study. Participants completed demographics, the GDT, the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA), the Pediatric Vestibular Symptom Questionnaire (PVSQ), and the Pediatric Visually Induced Dizziness Questionnaire (PVID).

Results: Children with concussions showed higher (worse) GDT scores (M = 2.18 ± 1.93 s) than healthy controls (M = 1.13 ± 0.95 s), which was statistically significant (P = 0.014).

Conclusion: The GDT was able to distinguish between children with concussions and healthy controls. Given the simplicity of the GDT, it can be used to assist in discriminating between children with and without concussion.

Keywords: Gait Disorientation Test; balance; children; concussion; gait speed; mild TBI (mTBI).