Clinical Training Experience Raises the Gait Analysis Ability of Physical Therapy Students: Changes Seen in Training School Students Using the Wisconsin Gait Scale

Abstract

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of clinical training experience on the gait analysis ability of physical therapy students. [Participants and Methods] The subjects were 87 physical therapy students and 61 clinical training educators, a total of 148. The Wisconsin Gait Scale was used as a gait analysis index, and the responses of the subjects were compared and analyzed. [Results] There were significant differences in the responses to the 8 items between physical therapy students and clinical training educators before clinical training. Physical therapy students after clinical training and clinical training educators showed a significant difference in their responses to two items. In addition, there was a significant difference in one item in a comparison of the clinical training educators by clinical experience years. [Conclusion] The results suggest that clinical training experience improved the gait analysis ability of physical therapy students, raising it close to that of clinical training educators.