Objective: To compare gait characteristics from walking on a treadmill machine between Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and controls

Background: Gait disturbance is gradually worsened as Parkinson’s disease (PD) progresses and significantly affects quality-of-life of PD patients. To evaluate the characteristics of gait abnormality in PD, gait analysis systems have been used. However, current systems require a sufficient space to secure walking distance for gait analysis.

Methods: We retrospectively collected the data of patients and controls who underwent gait analysis with the treadmill gait analysis system. The procedure included two parts: stance analysis on the stopped treadmill and subsequent gait analysis at the maximal comfortable gait velocity (MCGV). We obtained spatial and temporal gait parameters as well as detailed stance phase analysis: relative proportion and maximum pressure changes in load response, mid-stance, and pre-swing phase. All parameters were converted into the mean value and asymmetry index (AI) of left and right gait parameters, and coefficient of variation (CV) for variability of the gait. Clinical features and gait parameters of patients and controls were compared with age-adjusted statistical analyses.

Results: Total 45 patients with PD and 40 controls were included. The mean age of patient and control groups was 67.0±5.3 and 65.1±6.1 years, respectively (p=0.120). In the stance analysis, AI of COP of patients was significantly higher than that of the controls. In the gait analysis, step length, stride length, swing phase, cadence, and MCGV were decreased, while stance phase, step time, stride time, swing phase, cadence, AIs of swing phase and step time, and CVs of step length and stride length increased in PD patients. In the COP analysis, the single-support-line was decreased, and AI and CV of the length-of-gait-line was increased in PD patients. Finally, in the detailed stance phase analysis, relative proportion of load response and pre-swing phase increased, while the mid-stance and the maximum pressure of the pressing heel at load response decreased in PD patients.

Conclusions: The gait analysis using the treadmill machine reflected well the characteristics of gait abnormality in PD, which is known as slow, short step, and shuffling gaits. Moreover, the detailed gait parameters from the COP analysis and detailed stance phase analysis were helpful in characterizing Parkinsonian gait. In conclusion, the treadmill-based gait analysis system is a potentially useful device for evaluation of gait abnormality of PD.

« Back to 2018 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/treadmill-based-gait-analysis-for-gait-abnormality-of-parkinson-disease/