title: Gait variability in Parkinson's disease: influence of walking speed and dopaminergic treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of levodopa and walking speed on gait variability in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three individuals with PD were studied. Their mean age was 70.61±9.23 year. The average time since diagnosis was 9.65±5.80 year. Gait variability was studied while 'OFF' and 'ON' dopaminergic medication when the subjects walked at their usual and fastest speeds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Variability of step time, double support time, stride length and stride velocity decreased significantly (P=0.037; P=0.037; P=0.022; P=0.043, respectively) after dopaminergic treatment. When subjects increased walking speed, the variability of stride length and stride velocity decreased significantly (P=0.038 and P=0.004, respectively) both while 'OFF' and 'ON' levodopa. Increasing walking speed did not change the variability of step time and double support time regardless of medication status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levodopa decreased gait variability in persons with PD. Stride length and stride velocity variability appeared to be speed dependent parameters, whereas, the variability of step time and double support time appeared to be speed independent measures. Levodopa had positive effects on gait stability in PD.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Professions, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. mon.bryant@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mon S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.forename: Diana H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rintala
authors.forename: Jyhgong G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Ann L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Charness
authors.forename: Angel L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Eugene C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Protas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa
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