Persons with Parkinson's disease show impaired interlimb coordination during backward walking

Backward locomotion (backward walking and running) is increasingly used in sports and medicine. Kinetic and kinematic analysis of backward walking showed its advantages over the usual method of movement that can be successfully used in the athletic training and for treatment and rehabilitation after various diseases. During sports training backward walking/running can be used as one of the methods of fitness to improve physical endurance. Backward walking leads to a more cardiovascular and respiratory load and a more significant aerobic and anaerobic capacity of the organism compared with forward walking at similar parameters of physical activity. Backward walking is associated with less overload on knee joints, it is also one of the few natural ways of strengthening the quadriceps. Backward walking is used to elaborate the correct pattern of gait in children with cerebral palsy, in persons with hemiplegia after stroke, in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, in spinal cord injured patients. Regular backward walking trainings improve spatial-temporal parameters of walking and balance, increase muscle strength of the lower limbs in these diseases. There is an information about the application of backward walking exercises in diabetic foot syndrome in order to reduce a plantar pressure and in physical rehabilitation of postoperative patients. Tests with backward walking are used for diagnostic purposes - to assess the severity of impaired coordination and motor skills in post-stroke patients and in Parkinson’s disease, to identify the minimal walking impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis and for probability of falling prediction in elderly individuals and patients with dizziness.

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Comprehensive Analysis of Walking Characteristics of Patients with Parkinson’s disease: Impact of Freezing of Gait

10.21203/rs.3.rs-123176/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Minji Son ◽

Sang-Myung Cheon ◽

Changhong Youm ◽

Jae Kim

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Freezing Of Gait ◽

Step Length ◽

Asymmetry Index ◽

Comprehensive Analysis ◽

Backward Walking ◽

Ankle Joints ◽

Disease Impact

Abstract Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) suffer from walking disturbances. This study was done to comprehensively analyze walking characteristics of PD, including forward and backward walking and turning. Impacts of freezing of gait (FoG) were also determined. Forward and backward walking and 360° turning was recorded at preferred speed in defined ‘off’ state. PD showed narrower step length, slower walking speed, and higher asymmetry index (AI) of step length during forward and backward walking. During turning, PD had more turning steps, longer turning time, and shorter step length than control. There was no difference at forward walking according to FoG, but freezer showed narrower step length and decreased range of motion in ankle joints at backward walking. Freezer showed longer step time and higher AI of step length at turning. The severity of FoG was correlated with step length and walking speed during forward and backward walking, total step count, total step time, and walking speed during turning. Comprehensive analysis showed that PD had narrower step length, slower walking speed, and increased asymmetry of step length. These features were the most prominent during turning, followed by backward and forward walking. Impacts of FoG were also the most prominent during turning.

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