Citation

Robles-García V, Corral-Bergantiños Y, Espinosa N, Jácome MA, García-Sancho C, Cudeiro J, Arias P. J. Appl. Biomech. 2014; 31(3): 189-194.

Affiliation

Neuroscience and Motor Control Group, Faculty of Health Sciences. INEF-Galicia, Universidade da Coruña and Institute of Biomedical Research of A Coruña, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/jab.2013-0319

PMID

25536440

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) and aging lead to gait impairments. Some of the disturbances of gait are focused on step-length, cadence and temporal variability of gait-cycle. Under experimental conditions gait can be overtly evaluated, but patients with PD are prone to expectancy effects, thus it seems relevant to determine if such evaluation truly reflects the spontaneous gait pattern in such patients, and also in healthy-subjects. Thirty subjects (15 patients with PD and 15 healthy-controls) were asked to walk using their natural, preferred gait pattern. In half of the trials subjects were made aware that they were being evaluated (Overt-Evaluation), while in the rest of trials the evaluation was performed covertly (Covert-Evaluation). During Covert-Evaluation the gait pattern was modified, in all groups. Gait speed was significantly increased (p=.022); besides step cadence and average step-length were also significantly modified: the average step-length increased (p=.002) and the cadence was reduced (p≤.001). Stride cycle-time variability was unchanged significantly (p=.084). These changes were not significantly different if compared between elderly and young healthy controls, either. Due to the small sample size a note of caution is in order; however the significant results suggest that Covert-Evaluation of gait might be considered to complement experimental evaluations of gait.

Language: en