Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether Parkinson's disease (PD) affects gait behavior and
stability while walking over an obstacle. DESIGN: Parallel group comparisons were
completed in which participants completed 5 trials of normal walking and 5 trials
of obstacle crossing while gait kinematics and kinetics were collected. SETTING:
University biomechanics laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with PD (n=10) and
age- and sex-matched healthy older adults (n=10). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gait parameters, obstacle clearance parameters, and center
of mass motion were calculated during normal walking and obstacle crossing.
RESULTS: Results revealed that decrements in gait performance in individuals with
PD were amplified during obstacle crossing, suggesting that due to
disease-related degradation, individuals with PD chose a more conservative
strategy for obstacle crossing. Moreover, an increased duration of single limb
support (18% increase), a decrease in anteroposterior range of motion (20%
decrease), and an increase in mediolateral range of motion (36% increase, though
not significant) coupled with the reduction in the distance between the center of
pressure and center of mass (mean of 21% decrease across toe-off and heel strike)
and increase in margin of stability (31% increase at toe-off and 71% increase at
heel strike) may suggest that deficits in muscle strength and balance may
contribute to this impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with PD alter their behavior
to reduce the mechanical demands and increase dynamic stability during obstacle
avoidance tasks.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS