Gait analysis comparing Parkinson's disease with healthy elderly subjects.

UNLABELLED: There is a lack of studies comparing the kinematics data of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) patients with healthy elder (HE) subjects, and when there is such research, it is not correlated to clinical measures. OBJECTIVE: To compare the spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters of Parkinsonian gait with the HE subjects group and measure the relation between these parameters and clinical instruments. METHOD: Twelve patients with IPD and fifteen HE subjects were recruited and evaluated for clinical instruments and gait analysis. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between HE group and the IPD group, in stride velocity, in stride length (SL), and in the hip joint kinematic data: on initial contact, on maximum extension during terminal contact and on maximum flexion during mid-swing. Regarding the clinical instruments there were significant correlated with in stride velocity and SL. CONCLUSION: Clinical instruments used did not present proper psychometric parameters to measure the IPD patient's gait, while the 3D system characterized it better.

Gait analysis comparing Parkinson's disease with healthy elderly subjects / Comparação da doença de Parkinson com idosos saudáveis através da análise da marcha

There is a lack of studies comparing the kinematics data of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) patients with healthy elder (HE) subjects, and when there is such research, it is not correlated to clinical measures. Objective: To compare the spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters of Parkinsonian gait with the HE subjects group and measure the relation between these parameters and clinical instruments. Method: Twelve patients with IPD and fifteen HE subjects were recruited and evaluated for clinical instruments and gait analysis. Results: There were statistically significant differences between HE group and the IPD group, in stride velocity, in stride length (SL), and in the hip joint kinematic data: on initial contact, on maximum extension during terminal contact and on maximum flexion during mid-swing. Regarding the clinical instruments there were significant correlated with in stride velocity and SL. Conclusion: Clinical instruments used did not present proper psychometric parameters to measure the IPD patient's gait, while the 3D system characterized it better.

Poucos estudos comparam os dados cinemáticos de pacientes com doença de Parkinson idiopática (DPI) com indivíduos idosos saudáveis, e quando realizam não correlacionam com medidas clínicas. Objetivo: Comparar os parâmetros espaço-temporais e cinemáticos da marcha na DP com os de idosos saudáveis (IS) e avaliar a relação entre estes parâmetros com os instrumentos clínicos. Método: Doze pacientes com DPI e quinze IS foram recrutados e avaliados por instrumentos clínicos e de análise de marcha. Resultados: Houve diferenças estatísticas significantes entre o grupo de IS e o de DPI na velocidade da marcha e no comprimento do passo (CP), nos dados cinemáticos das articulações do quadril: no contato inicial, na máxima extensão no apoio e na máxima flexão na oscilação. No que diz respeito aos instrumentos clínicos houve significativa correlação com a velocidade da marcha e SL. Conclusão: Os instrumentos clínicos utilizados não apresentaram adequados parâmetros psicométricos para a avaliação da marcha dos indivíduos com DPI, enquanto uma avaliação em 3D caracteriza melhor a marcha destes indivíduos.

Depression in patients with Parkinson's disease: impact on functioning.

Depression is a frequently observed neuropsychiatric phenomenon in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it has been lately considered as a manifestation of such disease. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between depression and clinical aspects of PD and to assess the impact of the co-occurrence of such condition on the burden imposed by PD. Fifty outpatients diagnosed with idiopathic PD according to the London Brain Bank criteria were examined. PD was evaluated using Hoehn & Yahr staging (H&Y), United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Schwab & England (S&E) functional capacity evaluation. A semi-structured clinical interview was used. The diagnosis of PD was made by neurologist experts on movement disorders, and the diagnosis of depression was made by a psychiatrist, according to the ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Depressive symptoms were additionally measured using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale. The analysis of quantitative data was performed using descriptive statistics, univariate linear regression, T-Student Test and ANOVA. Seventeen (34%) patients were diagnosed as clinically depressed and, when compared to the non-depressed ones, presented the following results: H&Y: 3.2 vs. 2.8; UPDRS total: 75.7 vs. 65.3; S&E: 53.5% vs. 65.8% and PD duration: 114.4 months vs. 125.8 months. Depressed patients showed more advanced staging (H&Y), a more severe global clinical condition (UPDRS) and also a greater decrease in their functional capacity (S&E). These data reinforce the hypothesis that depression is associated to poorer functioning in patients with PD.