title: Gait analysis in patients with Parkinson's disease off dopaminergic therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare time-distance, kinematic, and kinetic gait parameters in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) off dopaminergic therapy with a group of healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group-comparison study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gait analysis laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with PD (n=20) and healthy age-matched controls (n=20).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time-distance, kinematic, and kinetic gait variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PD patients walked slower with shorter stride-length, comparable cadence, and longer double support times. Kinematics showed a reduction of the range of motion in the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Maximum hip extension and the ankle plantar flexion were significantly reduced. Kinetic gait parameters showed reduced push-off ankle power and lift-off hip power generation. Strong correlations between these important body advancement mechanisms and the walking velocity were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to previously described dysfunctional kinematics, abnormal kinetic parameters play an important role in the characterization of gait in PD patients off therapy. Hence, these parameters could be used to document treatment effects of parkinsonian gait disorders.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 34, Graz, A-8036, Austria. martin.spejlik@seznam.cz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svehlík
authors.forename: Ernst B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Zwick
authors.forename: Gerhardt
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinwender
authors.forename: Wolfgang E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Linhart
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schwingenschuh
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Katschnig
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Enzinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa