Gait asymmetry and symptom laterality in Parkinson's disease: two of a kind?

Background: The laterality of motor symptoms is considered a key feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we investigated whether gait and turning asymmetry coincided with symptom laterality as determined by the MDS-UPRDS part III and whether it was increased compared to healthy controls (HC).

Methods: We analyzed the asymmetry of gait and turning with and without a cognitive dual task (DT) using motion capture systems and wearable sensors in 97 PD patients mostly from Hoehn & Yahr stage II and III and 36 age-matched HC.

Towards a better understanding of anticipatory postural adjustments in people with Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) are altered in people with Parkinson's disease but its meaning for locomotion is less understood. This study aims to investigate the association between APAs and gait initiation, gait and freezing of gait and how a dynamic postural control challenging training may induce changes in these features.

Methods: Gait initiation was quantified using wearable sensors and subsequent straight walking was assessed via marker-based motion capture.

Split-Belt Treadmill Training to Improve Gait Adaptation in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Gait deficits in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) are triggered by circumstances requiring gait adaptation. The effects of gait adaptation training on a split-belt treadmill (SBT) are unknown in PD.

Objective: We investigated the effects of repeated SBT versus tied-belt treadmill (TBT) training on retention and automaticity of gait adaptation and its transfer to over-ground walking and turning.

Dual Task Turning in Place: A Reliable, Valid, and Responsive Outcome Measure of Freezing of Gait.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a complex symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) that is both elusive to elicit and varied in its presentation. These complexities present a challenge to measuring FOG in a sensitive and reliable way, precluding therapeutic advancement.

Objective: We investigated the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of manual video annotations of the turning-in-place task and compared it to the sensor-based FOG ratio.

How many gait initiation trials are necessary to reliably detect anticipatory postural adjustments and first step characteristics in healthy elderly and people with Parkinson's disease?

Background: The gait initiation (GI) process can be characterized by anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) and first step characteristics. However, even within a constrained environment, it is unclear how many trials are necessary to obtain a reliable measurement of the GI process within one assessment.

Research Question: How many gait initiation trials are necessary to reliably detect APAs and first step characteristics in healthy elderly (HC) and people with Parkinson's disease with Freezing of Gait (PD + FOG) under single (ST) and dual task (DT) conditions and are there any potential systematic errors?

Methods: Thirty-eight PD + FOG (ON-medication) and 30 HC performed 5 trials of GI under ST and DT (auditory stroop test).

Validation of the German Version of the New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire for People with Parkinson's Disease.

Freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is a highly disabling symptom which impacts quality of life. The New FOG Questionnaire (NFOG-Q) is the most commonly used tool worldwide to characterize FOG severity in PD. This study aims to provide a German translation of the NFOG-Q and to assess its validity in people with PD.

Short-Term Effects of Single-Session Split-Belt Treadmill Training on Dual-Task Performance in Parkinson's Disease and Healthy Elderly.

Dual-tasking is challenging for people with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait (PD+FOG) and can exacerbate freezing episodes and falls. Split-belt treadmill training (SBT) is a novel tool to train complex gait and may improve dual-task (DT) walking and turning. To investigate the single-session effects of SBT on DT walking and DT turning performance in PD+FOG and older adults (OA), compared to regular treadmill training.

The Effect of One Session Split-Belt Treadmill Training on Gait Adaptation in People With Parkinson's Disease and Freezing of Gait.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with gait asymmetry and switching difficulty. A split-belt treadmill may potentially address those deficits.

Objective: To investigate the immediate and retention effects of one-session split-belt treadmill training (SBT) in contrast to regular tied-belt treadmill training (TBT) on gait asymmetry and adaptation in people with PD and FOG (PD + FOG) and healthy controls (HC).

Split-belt treadmill walking in patients with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review.

Background: Walking on a split-belt treadmill (SBT) can help to modulate an asymmetric gait, particularly for people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), where asymmetry plays a role due to the laterality of the disease.

Research Question: This systematic review critically evaluates the literature on SBT in PD. First, different SBT paradigms and methodological approaches were evaluated.

Moderate Frequency Resistance and Balance Training Do Not Improve Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study.

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Freezing of Gait (FOG) have impaired postural control, which relate to the severity of FOG. The aim of this study was to analyze whether a moderate frequency resistance (RT) and balance training (BT), respectively, are effective to diminish FOG. This sub-analysis of a randomized controlled training intervention study of PD patients with and without FOG reports about results from FOG patients.