Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 11 , Pages 1880-1886, November 2009

Gait Analysis in Patients With Parkinson's Disease Off Dopaminergic Therapy

  • Martin Švehlík, MD

      Affiliations

    • Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
    • Department of Children and Adult Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2nd Medical School, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to Martin Švehlík, MD, Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz; Auenbruggerplatz 34, Graz, A-8036, Austria
    • ,
  • Ernst B. Zwick, MD

      Affiliations

    • Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Gerhardt Steinwender, MD

      Affiliations

    • Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Wolfgang E. Linhart, MD

      Affiliations

    • Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Petra Schwingenschuh, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Petra Katschnig, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Erwin Ott, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
    • ,
  • Christian Enzinger, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

Abstract 

Švehlík M, Zwick EB, Steinwender G, Linhart WE, Schwingenschuh P, Katschnig P, Ott E, Enzinger C. Gait analysis in patients with Parkinson's disease off dopaminergic therapy.

Objective

To compare time-distance, kinematic, and kinetic gait parameters in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) off dopaminergic therapy with a group of healthy control subjects.

Design

A group-comparison study.

Setting

Gait analysis laboratory.

Participants

Patients with PD (n=20) and healthy age-matched controls (n=20).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Time-distance, kinematic, and kinetic gait variables.

Results

PD patients walked slower with shorter stride-length, comparable cadence, and longer double support times. Kinematics showed a reduction of the range of motion in the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Maximum hip extension and the ankle plantar flexion were significantly reduced. Kinetic gait parameters showed reduced push-off ankle power and lift-off hip power generation. Strong correlations between these important body advancement mechanisms and the walking velocity were observed.

Conclusions

In addition to previously described dysfunctional kinematics, abnormal kinetic parameters play an important role in the characterization of gait in PD patients off therapy. Hence, these parameters could be used to document treatment effects of parkinsonian gait disorders.

Key Words: Biomechanics, Levodopa, Neurologic gait disorders, Parkinson Disease, Rehabilitation

List of Abbreviations: PD, Parkinson's disease, L-dopa, levodopa, ROM, range of motion

 

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

 Reprints are not available from the author.

PII: S0003-9993(09)00649-2

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2009.06.017

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 11 , Pages 1880-1886, November 2009

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