title: Gait and balance in adults with Friedreich's ataxia.
abstract: Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is an autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness and sensory loss, balance deficits, and gait ataxia. Gait and balance impairments become worse as the disease progresses, but limited research has quantitatively assessed these deficits in adults with FA. The purpose of this study was to analyze gait and balance in this population and investigate the relationship between these variables. Eight subjects with genetically confirmed FA (29.4±9.0 years) and eight healthy, matched control subjects (29.6±9.1 years) participated in this study. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were examined using the GAITRite Walkway System while balance was examined utilizing the Biodex Balance System SD and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The FA group exhibited approximately 50% slower gait velocity and 32% shorter step and stride lengths compared to the control group for both comfortable and fast walking (p<0.001). Further, stride length variability in the FA group was 3.4 and 2.7 times that of controls for comfortable and fast walking, respectively (p<0.01). Subjects with FA took 72% longer to complete the limits of stability (LOS) test and attained an overall directional control score that was 50% that of controls (p<0.05). Lastly, age at FA symptom onset correlated with stride length variability during fast walking (p<0.05), and BBS and LOS test scores correlated with stride length variability during both comfortable and fast walking (p<0.05). Results demonstrate that adults with FA have significantly impaired gait and balance and several measures of these impairments are correlated.
authors: School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA. Electronic address: jstephe1@health.usf.edu.
authors: Jeannie
authors: J
authors: Stephenson
authors: Department of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Theresa
authors: T
authors: Zesiewicz
authors: Department of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Clifton
authors: C
authors: Gooch
authors: School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Lynn
authors: L
authors: Wecker
authors: Department of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: Sullivan
authors: Department of Neurology, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Israt
authors: I
authors: Jahan
authors: School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors: Seok Hun
authors: SH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Balance; Cerebellar ataxia; Friedreich's ataxia; Gait