Absorbent paper method for recording children foot progression angle

Because of its relation to the transverse plane rotation, the foot progression angle (FPA) remain an important gait parameter for the clinicians. FPA can be measured with electronic plantar pressure platform, but this mean requires an expensive equipment.

The purpose of this study was to develop an inexpensive and easy-to-use technique to measure FPA in a daily orthopedic clinic, and examine its days-to-days reliability.

Foot prints from children with “in-toeing” gait were collected with a standardized technique using water, an absorbent paper and a goniometer. Two trials per subject were analyzed in a period of two weeks. The relative reliability of the method was assessed with repeated measures one-way analysis of variance and calculation of intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Absolute disparity was determined by mean coefficient of variation (CV), limits of agreement (LOA) and standard error of measurement (SEM).

Gait parameters have been collected from both sides from 13 patients. Statistical analyses revealed that ICC was excellent (0,83), CV was acceptable (23%), as well as SEM (2,32) and LOA [-3,63; 1,36] using this method.

Used by the same observer, our method to measure FPA seems to be reliable and easy to implement in an outpatient department. A simpler technique to measure FPA, using absorbent paper, has already been published but their statistical method to confirm reliability and reproducibility remain incomplete. Our study is the first to validate the reproducibility of a simple and accessible method.