Functional Gait Assessment, Research Paper Example

This review aims at analyzing the article of Wrisley and Kumar entitled, ‘Functional Gait Assessment: Concurrent, Discriminative, and Predictive Validity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.’ A summary and defined purpose of the article provided. Thereafter, structure examination conducted to examine information display and readers’ ease to information access. Tables and graphs presented need accessing in order to judge the credibility and accessibility of the article. Generally, that article is relevant and clear.

The article, written with a perspective that is unbiased, relays statistical evidence from the cohort study conducted. The article provides readers with logical evidence, and findings from the research, which influences professionals to investigate further on the topic and other related studies.  It is objective for professionals to use because it provides succinct data on cohort study conducted. This elaborates the value of data collection method in research and shows the effectiveness of using sampling. The thesis statement is presented clearly as, “Many factors may contribute to falling in elderly people, including lower-extremity weakness, balance disorders, functional and cognitive impairments, visual deficits, polypharmacy, and environmental factors. Postural instability and gait abnormalities are strongly associated with falling in elderly people.” The authors give reasons that logically support the thesis statement by addressing issues for falls among older adults. Additionally, the authors suggest screening tools used to reduce fall risks among this group of individuals.  They have provided evidence researched by other authors that elaborate the significance of using these tools and how they have changed over time. Solutions provided help professionals in reducing the number of fall risks.

Much empirical support provided in the article in support of claims and uses specific numbers (59% to 89%). To the reader, comparisons made for different validity help in integrating issues and thus, they acknowledge the best method to apply during their study. The cohort study shows that the researcher considered many factors before choosing their sample; effectively attain results that will build on the study. The article is clear on the assessors’ experience, which relates to readers that, the research needs to have individuals who are familiar with data collected in order to help participants of the study acquire results subjective to the study.

Research decisions reached by the two authors are supported by opinions and facts displayed in the article. Majority of the arguments and claims in the article are supported and alternative views of other researchers are included. By using other people’s literature, the authors are able to compare their results and come up with conclusive information supporting the objective and relevance of their study. The graphs presented are clear to readers and gives them a clear picture on how the calculations affect the FGI and thus, they are able to interpret findings. Recommendations are also given for future caregivers to implement to curb complications among older adults in the community. The sources used are credible and reliable and therefore, they are reliable.

In conclusion, the authors agree that FGA is a more convenient way of predicting the number of falls in older adults of the community as compared to screening tools presented by clinicians. The evidence provided support this fact and statistics laid down is satisfactory for both readers and clinical professionals. The article is sound and gives readers the basis and foundation to testing tools applied in curbing complications among older adults and thus, it is professional for those conducting research.

Works Cited

Wrisley, Diane and Kumar, Neeraj. Functional Gait Assessment: Concurrent, Discriminative, and Predictive Validity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.