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.鉴于其与横断面旋转的关联，足部前进角（Foot Progression Angle, FPA）始终是临床医师重要的步态参数。足部前进角可通过电子足底压力平台进行测量，但该方法需要使用昂贵的设备。 本研究旨在开发一种低成本且易于操作的技术，用于日常骨科门诊的足部前进角测量，并检验其日间信度。 研究采用标准化方法，使用水、吸水纸与测角仪，收集了内八字步态儿童的足印。在两周的周期内，对每名受试者进行两次测试并开展分析。采用重复测量单因素方差分析与组内相关系数（Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC）计算评估该方法的相对信度；通过平均变异系数（Coefficient of Variation, CV）、一致性界限（Limits of Agreement, LOA）与测量标准误（Standard Error of Measurement, SEM）确定绝对偏差。 研究纳入13例患者，采集双侧步态参数。统计分析结果显示，该方法的组内相关系数表现优异（0.83），变异系数处于可接受范围（23%），测量标准误为2.32，一致性界限为[-3.63; 1.36]。 由同一操作者使用时，本研究提出的足部前进角测量方法具备良好信度，且易于在门诊科室推广应用。此前已有研究发布了一种使用吸水纸的简易足部前进角测量技术，但其验证信度与可重复性的统计方法仍不够完善。本研究首次验证了一种简易且易于获取的测量方法的可重复性。