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A biomechanical analysis of turning during gait in individuals with different subtypes of Parkinson's disease

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  • State University of Londrina
  • University Hospital of the State University of Londrina
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Rehabilitation is a high-potential approach to improving physical and cognitive functions in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dual-task training innovatively combines motor and cognitive rehabilitation in a comprehensive module. Patients perform motor and cognitive tasks at the same time in dual-task training. The previous studies of dual-task training in PD had high heterogeneity and achieved controversial results. In the current review, we aim to summarize the current evidence of the effect of dual-task training on motor and cognitive functions in PD patients to support the clinical practice of dual-task training. In addition, we also discuss the current opinions regarding the mechanism underlying the interaction between motor and cognitive training. In conclusion, dual-task training is suitable for PD patients with varied disease duration to improve their motor function. Dual-task training can improve motor symptoms, single-task gait speed, single-task steep length, balance, and objective experience of freezing of gait in PD. The improvement in cognitive function after dual-task training is mild.
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Motor–cognitive training in Parkinson’s disease (PD) can positively affect gait and balance, but whether motor–cognitive (dual-task) performance improves is unknown. This meta-analysis, therefore, aimed to establish the current evidence on the effects of motor–cognitive training on dual-task performance in PD. Systematic searches were conducted in five databases and 11 studies with a total of 597 people (mean age: 68.9 years; mean PD duration: 6.8 years) were included. We found a mean difference in dual-task gait speed (0.12 m/s (95% CI 0.08, 0.17)), dual-task cadence (2.91 steps/min (95% CI 0.08, 5.73)), dual-task stride length (10.12 cm (95% CI 4.86, 15.38)) and dual-task cost on gait speed (− 8.75% (95% CI − 14.57, − 2.92)) in favor of motor–cognitive training compared to controls. The GRADE analysis revealed that the findings were based on high certainty evidence. Thus, we can for the first time systematically show that people with PD can improve their dual-task ability through motor–cognitive training.
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To safely walk in a community environment requires dual cognitive–walking ambulation ability for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). A past study showed inconsistent results on cognitive–walking performance for PD patients, possibly due to the various cognitive tasks used and task priority assignment. This study designed cognitive–walking tests that used executive-related cognitive tasks to evaluate patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease who did not have obvious cognitive deficits. The effect of assigning task prioritization was also evaluated. Sixteen individuals with PD (PD group) and 16 individuals without PD (control group) underwent single cognitive tests, single walking tests, dual walking tests, and prioritizing task tests. Three types of cognitive, spatial memory, Stroops, and calculation tasks were employed. The cognitive performance was evaluated by response time, accuracy, and speed–accuracy trade off composite score. The walking performance was evaluated by the temporal spatial gait characteristics and variation in gait. The results showed that the walking performance of the PD group was significantly worse than the control group in both single and dual walking conditions. The group difference in cognitive performance was shown in composite score under the dual calculation walking task but not under the single task. While assigning priority to walking, no group difference in walking was observed but the response accuracy rate of PD groups declined. This study concluded that the dual task walking test could sharpen the cognitive deficits for early-stage PD patients. The task priority assignment might not be recommended while testing gait deficits since it decreased the ability to discriminate group differences.
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The study of human movement and biomechanics forms an integral part of various clinical assessments and provides valuable information toward diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders where the motor symptoms predominate. Conventional gait and postural balance analysis techniques like force platforms, motion cameras, etc., are complex, expensive equipment requiring specialist operators, thereby posing a significant challenge toward translation to the clinics. The current manuscript presents an overview and relevant literature summarizing the umbrella of factors associated with neurodegenerative disorder management: from the pathogenesis and motor symptoms of commonly occurring disorders to current alternate practices toward its quantification and mitigation. This article reviews recent advances in technologies and methodologies for managing important neurodegenerative gait and balance disorders, emphasizing assessment and rehabilitation/assistance. The review predominantly focuses on the application of inertial sensors toward various facets of gait analysis, including event detection, spatiotemporal gait parameter measurement, estimation of joint kinematics, and postural balance analysis. In addition, the use of other sensing principles such as foot-force interaction measurement, electromyography techniques, electrogoniometers, force-myography, ultrasonic, piezoelectric, and microphone sensors has also been explored. The review also examined the commercially available wearable gait analysis systems. Additionally, a summary of recent progress in therapeutic approaches, viz., wearables, virtual reality (VR), and phytochemical compounds, has also been presented, explicitly targeting the neuro-motor and functional impairments associated with these disorders. Efforts toward therapeutic and functional rehabilitation through VR, wearables, and different phytochemical compounds are presented using recent examples of research across the commonly occurring neurodegenerative conditions [viz., Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)]. Studies exploring the potential role of Phyto compounds in mitigating commonly associated neurodegenerative pathologies such as mitochondrial dysfunction, α-synuclein accumulation, imbalance of free radicals, etc., are also discussed in breadth. Parameters such as joint angles, plantar pressure, and muscle force can be measured using portable and wearable sensors like accelerometers, gyroscopes, footswitches, force sensors, etc. Kinetic foot insoles and inertial measurement tools are widely explored for studying kinematic and kinetic parameters associated with gait. With advanced correlation algorithms and extensive RCTs, such measurement techniques can be an effective clinical and home-based monitoring and rehabilitation tool for neuro-impaired gait. As evident from the present literature, although the vast majority of works reported are not clinically and extensively validated to derive a firm conclusion about the effectiveness of such techniques, wearable sensors present a promising impact toward dealing with neurodegenerative motor disorders.
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The shuffling gait with slowed speed and reduced stride length has been considered classic clinical features in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the risk of falling increases as the disease progresses. This raises the possibility that clinical disease severity might mediate the relationship between stride length and speed and the risk of falling in patients with PD. Sixty-one patients with PD patients underwent the clinical scores as well as quantitative biomechanical measures during walking cycles before and after dopamine replacement therapy. Mediation analysis tests whether the direct effect of an independent variable (stride length and speed) on a dependent variable (three-step fall prediction model score) can be explained by the indirect influence of the mediating variable (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) total scores). The results demonstrate that decreased stride length, straight walking speed, and turning speed is associated with increased three-step fall prediction model score (r = −0.583, p < 0.0001, r = −0.519, p < 0.0001, and r = −0.462, p < 0.0001, respectively). We further discovered that UPDRS total scores value is negatively correlated with stride length, straight walking, and turning speed (r = −0.651, p < 0.0001, r = −0.555, p < 0.0001, and r = −0.372, p = 0.005, respectively) but positively correlated with the fall prediction model score value (r = 0.527, p < 0.0001). Further mediation analysis shows that the UPDRS total score values serve as mediators between lower stride length, straight walking, and turning speed and higher fall prediction model score values. Our results highlighted the relationship among stride length and speed, clinical disease severity, and risk of falling. As decreased stride length and speed are hallmarks of falls, monitoring the changes of quantitative biomechanical measures along with the use of wearable technology in a longitudinal study can provide a scientific basis for pharmacology, rehabilitation programs, and selecting high-risk candidates for surgical treatment to reduce future fall risk.
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Background: Individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibit different combinations of motor symptoms. The most frequent subtypes are akinetic-rigid (AK-R) and hyperkinetic (HYP). Motor symptoms, such as rigidity and bradykinesia, can directly affect postural adjustments and performance in daily tasks, like gait initiation and obstacles negotiation, increasing the risk of falls and functional dependence. Objective: To compare postural adjustments and biomechanical parameters during the gait initiation and obstacle negotiation of people with AK-R and HYP PD and correlate with functional mobility and risk of falls. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Thirty-three volunteers with PD were divided into two groups according to clinical motor manifestations: AK-R (n = 16) and HYP (n = 17). We assessed the anticipatory (APA), compensatory (CPA) postural adjustments analyzing kinematic, kinetic and, electromyographic parameters during the gait initiation and obstacle negotiation tests. We applied independent T-tests and Pearson correlation tests for comparisons and correlations, respectively (α = 0.05). Results: In the APA phase of the gait initiation test, compared to the functional HYP group, the AK-R group showed shorter time for single support (p = 0.01), longer time for double support (p = 0.01) accompanied by a smaller first step (size, p = 0.05; height, p = 0.04), and reduced muscle activation of obliquus internus (p = 0.02). Similarly, during the first step in the obstacle negotiation test, the AK-R group showed less step height (p = 0.01) and hip excursion (p = 0.02), accompanied by a reduced mediolateral displacement of the center of pressure (p = 0.02) during APA, and activation of the gluteus medius (p = 0.02) and the anterior tibialis (p = 0.04) during CPA in comparison with HYP group. Conclusion: The findings suggest that people with AK-R present impaired postural adjustments during gait initiation and obstacles negotiation compared to hyperkinetic PD. Based on defined motor symptoms, the proposition presented here revealed consistent postural adjustments during complex tasks and, therefore, may offer new insights onto PD motor evaluation and neurorehabilitation.
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Purpose Gait impairment is a common clinical symptom of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Detecting specific gait parameters’ changes in order to guide clinical intervention is at present lacking. The present study aimed to (1) quantify gait impairments in different PD subtypes and (2) explore whether the results of quantitative gait analysis are beneficial to clinical treatment. Patients and Methods We enrolled 86 patients with PD (48 men, and 38 women) from the Department of Geriatrics of the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Hoehn-Yahr Scale were used to evaluate the motor symptoms of PD. All patients stopped anti-Parkinsonian medication for 24 hours (72 hours for controlled release medicine). The patients were divided into two subtypes, namely, postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD; n=56) and tremor dominant (TD; n=30) subtypes according to UPDRS. All patients completed the instrumented stand and walk test, and a set of JiBuEn gait analysis system was used in gait data collection. Results We observed a shorter stride length (p=0.021), a longer stride time (p=0.036), a faster cadence (p=0.036), and a more variable stride length (p=0.012) in the PIGD group compared with the TD group. In addition, compared with the TD group, we found that the toe-off angle (p=0.005) and the range of motion of ankle joint (p=0.009) decreased in the PIGD group. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that the gait performance of patients with PIGD is worse than those with TD from the perspective of quantitative gait analysis. We extended previous research and found the PIGD group exhibited severe gait impairments in some specific spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters. The different manifestations of these gait impairments may guide in choosing appropriate treatment of patients with different PD subtypes.
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Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) show typical gait asymmetries. These peculiar motor impairments are exacerbated by added cognitive and/or mechanical loading. However, there is scarce literature that chains these two stimuli. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of a dual task (cognitive task) and turning (mechanical task) on the spatiotemporal parameters in mild to moderate PD. Participants (nine patients with PD and nine controls (CRs)) were evaluated while walking at their self-selected pace without a secondary task (single task), and while repeating the days of the week backwards (dual task) along a straight direction and a 60 • and 120 • turn. As speculated, in single tasking, PD patients preferred to walk with a shorter stride length (p < 0.05) but similar timing parameters, compared to the CR group; in dual tasking, both groups walked slower with shorter strides. As the turn angle increased, the speed will be reduced (p < 0.001), whereas the ground-foot contact will become greater (p < 0.001) in all the participants. We showed that the combination of a simple cognitive task and a mechanical task (especially at larger angles) could represent an important training stimulus in PD at the early stages of the pathology.
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Mobile gait analysis systems using wearable sensors have the potential to analyze and monitor pathological gait in a finer scale than ever before. A closer look at gait in Parkinson’s disease (PD) reveals that turning has its own characteristics and requires its own analysis. The goal of this paper is to present a system with on-shoe wearable sensors in order to analyze the abnormalities of turning in a standardized gait test for PD. We investigated turning abnormalities in a large cohort of 108 PD patients and 42 age-matched controls. We quantified turning through several spatio-temporal parameters. Analysis of turn-derived parameters revealed differences of turn-related gait impairment in relation to different disease stages and motor impairment. Our findings confirm and extend the results from previous studies and show the applicability of our system in turning analysis. Our system can provide insight into the turning in PD and be used as a complement for physicians’ gait assessment and to monitor patients in their daily environment.
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Robust gait segmentation is the basis for mobile gait analysis. A range of methods have been applied and evaluated for gait segmentation of healthy and pathological gait bouts. However, a unified evaluation of gait segmentation methods in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is missing. In this paper, we compare four prevalent gait segmentation methods in order to reveal their strengths and drawbacks in gait processing. We considered peak detection from event-based methods, two variations of dynamic time warping from template matching methods, and hierarchical hidden Markov models (hHMMs) from machine learning methods. To evaluate the methods, we included two supervised and instrumented gait tests that are widely used in the examination of Parkinsonian gait. In the first experiment, a sequence of strides from instructed straight walks was measured from 10 PD patients. In the second experiment, a more heterogeneous assessment paradigm was used from an additional 34 PD patients, including straight walks and turning strides as well as non-stride movements. The goal of the latter experiment was to evaluate the methods in challenging situations including turning strides and non-stride movements. Results showed no significant difference between the methods for the first scenario, in which all methods achieved an almost 100% accuracy in terms of F-score. Hence, we concluded that in the case of a predefined and homogeneous sequence of strides, all methods can be applied equally. However, in the second experiment the difference between methods became evident, with the hHMM obtaining a 96% F-score and significantly outperforming the other methods. The hHMM also proved promising in distinguishing between strides and non-stride movements, which is critical for clinical gait analysis. Our results indicate that both the instrumented test procedure and the required stride segmentation algorithm have to be selected adequately in order to support and complement classical clinical examination by sensor-based movement assessment.
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Distinct gait characteristics like short steps and shuffling gait are prototypical signs commonly observed in Parkinson’s disease. Routinely assessed by observation through clinicians, gait is rated as part of categorical clinical scores. There is an increasing need to provide quantitative measurements of gait, e.g. to provide detailed information about disease progression. Recently, we developed a wearable sensor-based gait analysis system as diagnostic tool that objectively assesses gait parameter in Parkinson’s disease without the need of having a specialized gait laboratory. This system consists of inertial sensor units attached laterally to both shoes. The computed target of measures are spatiotemporal gait parameters including stride length and time, stance phase time, heel-strike and toe-off angle, toe clearance, and inter-stride variation from gait sequences. To translate this prototype into medical care, we conducted a cross-sectional study including 190 Parkinson’s disease patients and 101 age-matched controls and measured gait characteristics during a 4x10 meter walk at the subjects’ preferred speed. To determine intraindividual changes in gait, we monitored the gait characteristics of 63 patients longitudinally. Cross-sectional analysis revealed distinct spatiotemporal gait parameter differences reflecting typical Parkinson’s disease gait characteristics including short steps, shuffling gait, and postural instability specific for different disease stages and levels of motor impairment. The longitudinal analysis revealed that gait parameters were sensitive to changes by mirroring the progressive nature of Parkinson’s disease and corresponded to physician ratings. Taken together, we successfully show that wearable sensor-based gait analysis reaches clinical applicability providing a high biomechanical resolution for gait impairment in Parkinson’s disease. These data demonstrate the feasibility and applicability of objective wearable sensor-based gait measurement in Parkinson’s disease reaching high technological readiness levels for both, large scale clinical studies and individual patient care.
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Background: Gait disturbance is one of the most common symptoms among patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Nevertheless, Parkinson's disease subtype clustering according to gait characteristics has not been thoroughly investigated. Research question: The aim of this study was to identify subgroups according to gait pattern among patients with IPD. Methods: This study included 88 patients with IPD who underwent 18F-fluorinated-N-3-fluoropropyl-2-β-carboxymethoxy-3-β-4-iodophenyl-nortropane positron emission tomography (18F-FP-CIT PET) and three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016. We performed cluster analysis using temporal-spatial gait variables (gait speed, stride length, cadence, and step width) and divided patients into four subgroups. The kinematic and kinetic gait variables in 3DGA were compared among the four subgroups. Furthermore, we compared the uptake patterns of striatum among the four subgroups using 18F-FP-CIT PET. Results: The patients were clustered into subgroups based on gait hypokinesia and cadence compensation. Group 1 had decreased stride length compensating with increased cadence. Group 2 had decreased stride length without cadence compensation and wider step width. Group 3 had relatively spared stride length with decreased cadence. Group 4 had spared stride length and cadence. The uptake of posterior putamen was significantly decreased in Group 3 compared with Group 4. Significance: Gait hypokinesia and cadence can help to classify gait patterns in IPD patients. Our subgroups may reflect the different gait patterns in IPD patients.
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Gait impairments are among the most common and disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Nonetheless, gait is not routinely assessed quantitatively but is described in general terms that are not sensitive to changes ensuing with disease progression. Quantifying multiple gait features (eg, speed, variability, and asymmetry) under natural and more challenging conditions (eg, dual-tasking, turning, and daily living) enhanced sensitivity of gait quantification. Studies of neural connectivity and structural network topology have provided information on the mechanisms of gait impairment. Advances in the understanding of the multifactorial origins of gait changes in patients with Parkinson's disease promoted the development of new intervention strategies, such as neurostimulation and virtual reality, aimed at alleviating gait impairments and enhancing functional mobility. For clinical applicability, it is important to establish clear links between specific gait impairments, their underlying mechanisms, and disease progression to foster the acceptance and usability of quantitative gait measures as outcomes in future disease-modifying clinical trials.
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Background and purpose: Although instability during turning is a disabling feature of Parkinson disease (PD), little is known about the associated postural characteristics. Our goals were to compare turning stability between individuals with PD and healthy individuals and to investigate whether dopaminergic medication improves turning stability. Methods: Nineteen older adults with mild to moderate PD and 19 healthy individuals walked straight or walked and turned 180° to the right or left. The turning direction was visually cued before (preplanned) or during (unplanned) straight walking. Participants with PD were assessed off and on medication. As a proxy for mediolateral stability, we calculated the difference between pelvis lateral displacement and the lateral edge of the support base. Results: While healthy individuals regulated mediolateral stability in a steady-state manner during turning, mediolateral stability in PD was reduced for crossover steps (narrow steps by the foot contralateral to the turning direction) and increased for side steps (widening steps by the foot ipsilateral to the turning direction) (P ≤ 0.008). Individuals with PD turned with narrower step width (P ≤ 0.024) and smaller pelvis displacement than healthy individuals (P ≤ 0.002). Dopaminergic medication only improved mediolateral stability while using side steps to initiate unplanned turns (P < 0.001). Discussion and conclusions: Turning stability was compromised in PD, but only for crossover steps with a narrow support base. As dopaminergic medication showed limited effect on turning stability, rehabilitation plays an important role to promote safe turning strategies with a specific emphasis on sustainment of a wide support base.Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A236).
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Introduction Discrete patterns of progression have been suggested for patients with Parkinson disease and presenting tremor dominant (TD) or postural instability gait disorders (PIGD). However, longitudinal prospective assessments need to take into consideration the variability in clinical manifestations and the evidence that only 40% of initially classified PIGD remain in this subtype at subsequent visits. Methods We analyzed clinical progression of PIGD compared to TD using longitudinal clinical data from the PPMI. Given the reported instability of such clinical classification, we only included patients who were reported as PIGD/TD at each visit during the 4-year observation. We used linear mixed-effects models to test differences in progression in these subgroups in 51 dependent variables. Results There were 254 patients with yearly assessment. The number of PIGD was 36/254 vs 144/254 TD. PIGD had more severe motor disease at baseline but progressed faster than TD only in three non-motor items of the MDS-UPDRS: cognitive impairment, hallucinations, and psychosis plus features of DDS. Our analysis also showed in PIGD faster increase in the average time with dyskinesia. Conclusions PIGD are characterized by more severe disease manifestations at diagnosis and greater cognitive progression, more frequent hallucinations, psychosis as well as features of DDS than TD patients. We interpret these findings as expression of greater cortical and subcortical involvement in PIGD already at onset. Since PIGD/TD classification is very unstable at onset, our analysis based on stricter definition criteria provides important insight for clinical trial stratification and definition of related outcome measures.
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Objective: To understand the differences of step and turn parameters between freezers and non-freezers during turning and determine the influence of turn angle and turn characteristics on freezing of gait. Data sources: PubMed and Web of Science were searched from the earliest data available to August 2017. Study selection: Case–control studies that examined the differences in turning while walking between freezers and non-freezers were included. Two reviewers selected studies independently. Data extraction: Methodological quality was evaluated by two independent reviewers using the STROBE checklist for case–control studies. Mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were calculated from pooled data for turn duration, peak turn velocity, number of steps and cadence. Center of mass deviation, segmental rotation, phase coordination and freezing of gait frequency were also extracted. When possible, different turning angles or spatial confounds were compared. Data synthesis: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Freezing of gait occurred in 38.2% of the freezers. Freezing appeared most frequently at the end of a turn and at the inner leg of the turn cycle. The meta-analysis revealed that turning in freezers was characterized by an increased turn duration, cadence and number of steps and a decreased peak turn velocity. Qualitative analysis showed that results concerning step width, step length and step time variability were inconsistent. Turning was characterized by an increased head–pelvis coupling and worse coordination in freezers compared to non-freezers. A decreased medial deviation of the center of mass was present prior to a freezing episode. Conclusions: Both step and rotational parameters differed in freezers compared to non-freezers while turning. These differences increased with increasing task complexity (i.e., larger turning angle or spatial confounds during turning). The results suggest that improving axial rotation could be a valuable rehabilitation target to ameliorate freezing. • Implications for rehabilitation • Patients with freezing of gait turn with a larger arc and a smaller angle compared to non-freezing patients • Freezing–related turning deficits have both spatiotemporal and rotational motor control components • Improving axial rotation could be a novel rehabilitation target to ameliorate freezing
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Few detailed clinico-pathological correlations of Parkinson's disease have been published. The pathological findings in 100 patients diagnosed prospectively by a group of consultant neurologists as having idiopathic Parkinson's disease are reported. Seventy six had nigral Lewy bodies, and in all of these Lewy bodies were also found in the cerebral cortex. In 24 cases without Lewy bodies, diagnoses included progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer-type pathology, and basal ganglia vascular disease. The retrospective application of recommended diagnostic criteria improved the diagnostic accuracy to 82%. These observations call into question current concepts of Parkinson's disease as a single distinct morbid entity.
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We present a clinimetric assessment of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS)-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). The MDS-UDPRS Task Force revised and expanded the UPDRS using recommendations from a published critique. The MDS-UPDRS has four parts, namely, I: Non-motor Experiences of Daily Living; II: Motor Experiences of Daily Living; III: Motor Examination; IV: Motor Complications. Twenty questions are completed by the patient/caregiver. Item-specific instructions and an appendix of complementary additional scales are provided. Movement disorder specialists and study coordinators administered the UPDRS (55 items) and MDS-UPDRS (65 items) to 877 English speaking (78% non-Latino Caucasian) patients with Parkinson's disease from 39 sites. We compared the two scales using correlative techniques and factor analysis. The MDS-UPDRS showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79-0.93 across parts) and correlated with the original UPDRS (rho = 0.96). MDS-UPDRS across-part correlations ranged from 0.22 to 0.66. Reliable factor structures for each part were obtained (comparative fit index > 0.90 for each part), which support the use of sum scores for each part in preference to a total score of all parts. The combined clinimetric results of this study support the validity of the MDS-UPDRS for rating PD.
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Few detailed clinico-pathological correlations of Parkinson's disease have been published. The pathological findings in 100 patients diagnosed prospectively by a group of consultant neurologists as having idiopathic Parkinson's disease are reported. Seventy six had nigral Lewy bodies, and in all of these Lewy bodies were also found in the cerebral cortex. In 24 cases without Lewy bodies, diagnoses included progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer-type pathology, and basal ganglia vascular disease. The retrospective application of recommended diagnostic criteria improved the diagnostic accuracy to 82%. These observations call into question current concepts of Parkinson's disease as a single distinct morbid entity.
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Zatsiorsky et al. (in Contemporary Problems in Biomechanics, pp. 272-291, CRC Press, Massachusetts, 1990a) obtained, by means of a gamma-ray scanning technique, the relative body segment masses, center of mass (CM) positions, and radii of gyration for samples of college-aged Caucasian males and females. Although these data are the only available and comprehensive set of inertial parameters regarding young adult Caucasians, they have been rarely utilized for biomechanical analyses of subjects belonging to the same or a similar population. The main reason is probably that Zatsiorsky et al. used bony landmarks as reference points for locating segment CMs and defining segment lengths. Some of these landmarks were markedly distant from the joint centers currently used by most researchers as reference points. The purpose of this study was to adjust the mean relative CM positions and radii of gyration reported by Zatsiorsky et al., in order to reference them to the joint centers or other commonly used landmarks, rather than the original landmarks. The adjustments were based on a number of carefully selected sources of anthropometric data.
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The current study presents preliminary data regarding the development and validation of a rating system designed to classify PD patients into clinical subgroups. Using portions of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, a ratio value was derived, yielding three patient subtypes: a tremor-dominant group (T), an akinetic-rigid group (AR), and a mixed group (MX). Validation of the schema was conducted by grouping PD surgical candidates into specific disease subtypes and evaluating differences in neurotransmitter profiles among disease subtypes and non-PD neurological controls. High pressure liquid chromatography analysis of ventricular cerebrospinal fluid indicated 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was significantly lower in the AR and MX groups compared to non-PD controls; whereas, glycine was significantly higher in the AR group compared to the T, MX, and control groups. The results suggest that an operational approach can be utilized to differentiate between PD subtypes with distinct neurochemical profiles.
Article
Turning whilst walking was investigated by gait analysis in a group of Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients with mild clinical impairment and no significant abnormalities in stride parameters and kinematics of steady-state, linear walking. Comparison with age-matched controls demonstrated that patients approached turns with a slower step and completed turning with a greater number of steps. Moreover, the normal cranio-caudal sequence, whereby rotation of the head toward the intended direction of travel is followed by rotation of the trunk, was replaced by nearly simultaneous rotation of head and trunk and decreased relative head excursion after the second turning step. The evidence of abnormal inter-segmental coordination during turning in mildly affected, normally walking patients suggests that task-specific pathophysiological mechanisms, not necessary related to basic locomotor deficits, underlie disturbed directional changes in PD. Furthermore, turning-related neural systems may be more vulnerable to functional impairments associated with PD, as compared with linear walking. Hierarchically higher control levels involved in the turning ability may explain the observed unexpected association.
O Mini-exame do estado mental em uma população geral: impacto da escolaridade
  • Bertolucci
O Mini-exame do estado mental em uma população geral: impacto da escolaridade
  • P H F Bertolucci
  • S M D Brucki
  • S R Campacci
  • Y Juliano
Bertolucci, P.H.F., Brucki, S.M.D., Campacci, S.R., Juliano, Y., 1994. O Mini-exame do estado mental em uma população geral: impacto da escolaridade. Arq. Neuropsiquiatr. 52, 01-07. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0004-282x1994000100001.
Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale
  • S Athar
  • Y Bordelan
  • H M Bronte-Stewart
  • R Camicioli
  • K Chou
  • W Cole
  • A Dalvi
  • H Delgado
  • A Diamond
  • J P Dick
  • J Duda
  • R J Elble
  • C Evans
  • V G Evidente
  • H H Fernandez
  • S Fox
  • J H Friedman
  • R D Fross
  • D Gallagher
  • C G Goetz
  • D Hall
  • N Hermanowicz
  • V Hinson
  • S Horn
  • H Hurtig
  • U J Kang
  • G Kleiner-Fisman
  • O Klepitskaya
  • K Kompoliti
  • E C Lai
  • M L Leehey
  • I Leroi
  • K E Lyons
  • T Mcclain
  • S W Metzer
  • J Miyasaki
  • J C Morgan
  • M Nance
  • J Nemeth
  • R Pahwa
  • S A Parashos
  • J S J S Schneider
  • A Schrag
  • K Sethi
  • L M Shulman
  • A Siderowf
  • M Silverdale
  • T Simuni
  • M Stacy
  • M B Stern
  • R M Stewart
  • K Sullivan
  • D M Swope
  • P M Wadia
  • R W Walker
  • R Walker
  • W J Weiner
  • J Wiener
  • J Wilkinson
  • J M Wojcieszek
  • S Wolfrath
  • F Wooten
  • A Wu
  • T A Zesiewicz
  • R M Zweig
Athar, S., Bordelan, Y., Bronte-Stewart, H.M., Camicioli, R., Chou, K., Cole, W., Dalvi, A., Delgado, H., Diamond, A., Dick, J.P., Duda, J., Elble, R.J., Evans, C., Evidente, V.G., Fernandez, H.H., Fox, S., Friedman, J.H., Fross, R.D., Gallagher, D., Goetz, C.G., Hall, D., Hermanowicz, N., Hinson, V., Horn, S., Hurtig, H., Kang, U.J., Kleiner-Fisman, G., Klepitskaya, O., Kompoliti, K., Lai, E.C., Leehey, M.L., Leroi, I., Lyons, K.E., McClain, T., Metzer, S.W., Miyasaki, J., Morgan, J.C., Nance, M., Nemeth, J., Pahwa, R., Parashos, S.A., Schneider, J.S.J.S., Schrag, A., Sethi, K., Shulman, L.M., Siderowf, A., Silverdale, M., Simuni, T., Stacy, M., Stern, M.B., Stewart, R.M., Sullivan, K., Swope, D.M., Wadia, P.M., Walker, R.W., Walker, R., Weiner, W.J., Wiener, J., Wilkinson, J., Wojcieszek, J.M., Wolfrath, S., Wooten, F., Wu, A., Zesiewicz, T.A., Zweig, R.M., 2008. Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (MDS-UPDRS): scale presentation and clinimetric testing results. Mov. Disord. 23, 2129-2170. https://doi.org/10.1002/ mds.22340.