How to Score a Dynamic Gait Index

The Dynamic Gait Index is a standardized balance test administered by health care providers to assess a patient's risk of falling. The test can be used to demonstrate improvements in balance after physical therapy interventions; health care professionals compare subsequent test scores to the patient's baseline score at the time of the initial evaluation. The Dynamic Gait Index consists of eight walking activities of varying difficulty that are assigned a point value from 0 to 3: 0 = severe impairment, 1 = moderate impairment, 2 = mild impairment and 3 = normal. Scores are assigned based on the patient's performance of each test item.

Things You'll Need

• Dynamic Gait Index instruction sheet
• Dynamic Gait Index score sheet

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Instructions

• 1

  Read the first item to the patient from the instruction sheet. Read the words verbatim to maintain the test's validity.

• 2

  Assess the tasks in order and assign a score from 0 to 3 to each of the eight items on the list. Choose the number based on the descriptions provided next to each number on the instruction sheet.

• 3

  Add up the scores from each of the eight assessment tasks. The total score will indicate a patient's risk for falling. A score of 21/24 or higher indicates a minimal or no risk for falls; a score of less than 21/24 indicates a higher risk of falls. The lower the number, the greater the risk of a fall.