Objective: To determine the accuracy (criterion-related validity) of real-time clinical observations of push-off in gait after stroke.
Design: Criterion-related validity study of gait observations.
Setting: Rehabilitation hospital in Australia.
Participants: Eleven participants with stroke and 8 treating physical therapists.
Interventions: Not applicable.
Main outcome measures: Pearson product-moment correlation between physical therapists' observations of push-off during gait and criterion measures of peak ankle power generation from a 3-dimensional motion analysis system.
Results: A high correlation was obtained between the observational ratings and the measurements of peak ankle power generation (Pearson r =.98). The standard error of estimation of ankle power generation was .32W/kg.
Conclusions: Physical therapists can make accurate real-time clinical observations of push-off during gait following stroke.