title: Gait changes with walking devices in persons with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study immediate gait changes in persons with PD when walking with different assistive walking devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten individuals with idiopathic PD participated in the study. Gait parameters were recorded while walking with a cane and a wheeled walker, and were compared to a free walk without a walking device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persons with PD walked with slower gait speed when using a cane and a wheeled walker compared to walking without any device (p = 0.007, p = 0.002, respectively). Stride length reduced significantly when walking with a wheeled walker (p = 0.001). Walking with the assistive devices did not affect cadence, double support phase, heel to heel base of support, stride time, and stance period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persons with PD immediately walked with slower gait speed when using either a cane or a wheeled walker, and with shorter stride length when walking with a wheeled walker. The results may lead to more cautious clinical practice in gait rehabilitation using ambulatory assisted devices.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77030, USA. mon.bryant@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mon S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pourmoghaddam
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thrasher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003446:Crutches; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016138:Walking