Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)

Instructions: Use the radio buttons to select the appropriate score for each item. The total score will update automatically.

Materials Required: 6m/20ft flat walking area with a 30cm/12in width, stairs, obstacle (e.g., 2 shoeboxes), stopwatch.

FGA is a modification of the Dynamic Gait Index intended to reduce subjectivity in grading and the ceiling effect of DGI scoring among people with milder impairments. Mark the highest score that applies fully.

1. GAIT LEVEL SURFACE

Instructions: Walk at your normal speed from here to the next mark (20 feet away)

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

2. CHANGE IN GAIT SPEED

Instructions: Begin walking at your normal pace (for 1.5 m (5 ft)). When I tell you “go,” walk as fast as you can (for 1.5 m (5 ft)). When I tell you “slow,” walk as slowly as you can (for 1.5 m (5 ft)).

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

3. GAIT WITH HORIZONTAL HEAD TURNS

Instructions: Walk from here to the next mark 6 m (20 ft) away. Begin walking at your normal pace. Keep walking straight; after 3 steps, turn your head to the right and keep walking straight while looking to the right. After 3 more steps, turn your head to the left and keep walking straight while looking left. Continue alternating looking right and left every 3 steps until you have completed 2 repetitions in each direction.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

4. GAIT WITH VERTICAL HEAD TURNS

Instructions: Walk from here to the next mark (6 m (20 ft)). Begin walking at your normal pace. Keep walking straight; after 3 steps, tip your head up and keep walking straight while looking up. After 3 more steps, tip your head down, keep walking straight while looking down. Continue alternating looking up and down every 3 steps until you have completed 2 repetitions in each direction.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

5. GAIT AND PIVOT TURN

Instructions: Begin with walking at your normal pace. When I tell you, “turn and stop,” turn as quickly as you can to face the opposite direction and stop.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

6. STEP OVER OBSTACLE

Instructions: Begin walking at your normal speed. When you come to the shoe box, step over it, not around it, and keep walking.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

7. GAIT WITH NARROW BASE OF SUPPORT

Instructions: Walk on the floor with arms folded across the chest, feet aligned heel to toe in tandem for a distance of 3.6 m (12 ft). The number of steps taken in a straight line are counted for a maximum of 10 steps.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

8. GAIT WITH EYES CLOSED

Instructions: Walk at your normal speed from here to the next mark (6 m (20 ft)) with your eyes closed.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

9. AMBULATING BACKWARDS

Instructions: Walk backwards until I tell you to stop.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)

10. STEPS

Instructions: Walk up these stairs as you would at home (ie, using the rail if necessary). At the top turn around and walk down.

Normal (3)

Mild impairment (2)

Moderate impairment (1)

Severe impairment (0)