Session Information
Date: Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Session Title: Phenomenology and Clinical Assessment Of Movement Disorders
Session Time: 1:15pm-2:45pm
Location: Exhibit Hall C
Objective: To investigate gait characteristics of FOG, this study analyzed forward and backward gait of PD patients.
Background: FOG is one of major risk factors for falls and fall-related injury in PD. Characteristics of gait in PD patients with FOG have been studied but are still controversial.
Methods:
Twenty-six patients with PD were recruited (age 71.0±6.2 years, Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-3 (median 2.5)). Based on new freezing of gait questionnaire, patients were grouped to freezer and non-freezer. Spatio-temporal and kinematic analysis of forward and backward gait was done using Vicon 3D motion analysis system on the 10m walkway during defined ‘off’ state.
Results:
There was no difference in demographic and clinical characteristics between freezer (10 patients) and non-freezer (16 patients) group. Analysis of forward gait revealed no difference except for faster walking speed in non-freezer group. During backward gait, freezer group showed shorter stride length, slower walking speed, smaller flexion angle of hip and ankle joints, and lower step height. Furthermore, asymmetry of step length were increased in freezer group during backward gait.
Conclusions: Analyses backward gait revealed discriminating features of freezer from non-freezer in PD patients. Further investigation of backward gait might help to understand pathophysiology of FOG in PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
S.-M. Cheon, S.-Y. Lee, J.W. Kim. Gait characteristics of freezing in patients with Parkinson’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2017; 32 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/gait-characteristics-of-freezing-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed May 15, 2025.« Back to 2017 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/gait-characteristics-of-freezing-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/