Gait analysis of patients with Parkinson-plus syndromes: a research article

Abstract

Abstract Background Aim of the observational study was to assess which of the gait and balance parameters are most affected in Parkinson-plus syndromes patients with falling tendencies as compared to healthy individuals. Methods Authors studied levodopa-responsive patients of multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) who had falling tendencies early in the disease and healthy controls and evaluated the spatiotemporal gait parameters using BTS G WALK and balance parameters by Limits of Stability test on BIODEX Balance system SD in the Gait and Motion Analysis Lab. Results In comparison to controls, Parkinson-plus syndromes patients had significantly different gait and balance parameters, apart from stride time and stance time, pelvic obliquity and pelvic tilt, cadence, hip abduction–adduction and hip rotation, foot progression, gait profile score, gait variable hip abduction–adduction, rotation, gait variable flexion–extension and gait deviation index (p-values < 0.05). Also, in comparison to MSA patients, PSP patients had significantly greater values of all static parameters except for swing time, step width, pelvic tilt and rotation, hip rotation and ankle dorsiflexion-plantarflexion, gait profile score of right limbs and all gait variable parameters except for pelvic tilt and hip flexion–extension, foot progression and gait deviation index of right limb. However, balance parameters were similar in MSA and PSP. Duration of disease and duration since falls may not significantly affect gait and balance parameters in Parkinson-plus syndromes patients. Conclusions Hence, gait differentiates between Parkinson-plus patients and healthy controls and between MSA and PSP patients with falling tendencies and gait and balance parameters may also help in planning rehabilitative strategies.