NCT06870045

Dynamic Gait Index as a Functional Gait Assessment Measure in Children With JIA

Investigation of Validity and Reliability of Dynamic Walking Index in Childhood Rheumatic Diseases

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 52 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 16 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common chronic rheumatic diseases seen in childhood. Pain, joint swelling and loss of function caused by inflammation significantly reduce the patients' quality of life and lead to muscle weakness, limited range of motion and gait disorders. Although there are various clinical assessment methods, there is no functional test in the current literature that evaluates walking in children with JIA. The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) is a functional walking scale that evaluates walking on level ground, walking while changing speed, walking with sideways head turns, walking with vertical head turns, walking with pivot turns, walking by jumping over obstacles, going around obstacles and climbing stairs. While the DGA is widely used in the clinical assessment of walking in older adults and other pediatric patient groups, it has not yet been investigated for the assessment of walking difficulties in children with JIA. This study aimed to determine whether the DYI is a usable tool for assessing walking in children with JIA.

Conditions

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Childhood Rheumatic Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Physical examination	The physical examination will included Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Walking speed, Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale, Pediatric balance scale and CHAQ (Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire).
OTHER	Dynamic Gait Index	The DGI, whose validity and reliability will be investigated, consists of 8 items: walking on level ground, walking with changing speed, walking with sideways head turns, walking with vertical head turns, walking with pivot turns, walking over obstacles, going around obstacles, and climbing stairs. Performance on each item is rated on a 4-point scale ranging from 0 (severe impairment) to 3 (normal walking ability without a walking aid). The total score is 24. Scores below 19 indicate a risk of falling, while scores above 22 define safe ambulation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-01
• Primary completion: 2026-03-01
• Completion: 2026-06-01
• First posted: 2025-03-11
• Last updated: 2025-11-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)