title: Fatigue leads to gait changes in spinal muscular atrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired mobility and fatigue are common in ambulatory spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a reliable measure of fatigue in SMA patients. To further evaluate fatigue, we used quantitative gait analysis during the 6MWT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine subjects with SMA and 9 age- and gender-matched, healthy controls were evaluated. Gait parameters of speed and dynamic balance were correlated with 6MWT distance. Performance during the first and last 25 meters of the 6MWT was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speed-related gait parameters and support base correlated with 6MWT distance. Walking performance was worse for SMA patients. The deterioration in stride length during the 6MWT was greater in SMA patients than in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gait analysis detects fatigue, and the decrement in stride length may reflect selective muscle involvement in SMA. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying fatigue may suggest additional targets for future therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 180 Ft. Washington Avenue, Fifth Floor, New York, New York 10032, USA. jm598@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dunaway
authors.forename: Megan J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sproule
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Darryl C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: De Vivo
authors.forename: Ashwini K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult