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Variability in Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics Over the Course of the L-dopa Cycle in People With Advanced Parkinson Disease

Marilyn MacKay-Lyons
Published 1 October 1998
Marilyn MacKay-Lyons
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Abstract

Background and Purpose. Understanding the nature and extent of fluctuations in spatial and temporal variables of gait (eg, speed, stride length [SL], stride time [ST]) over the course of the levodopa (L-dopa) cycle of individuals with advanced Parkinson disease (PD) is important in order to assess patients and examine the effectiveness of interventions. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gait variables are sufficiently stable to be used as outcome measures in a clinical trial involving patients with advanced PD. Subjects. Five volunteers (3 male, 2 female; mean age=67.8 years; Hoehn and Yahr stages 3–4) with idiopathic PD of a mean duration of 15.0 years participated. Methods. Gait speed, SL, and ST were measured as the subjects walked 7.2 m at self-selected speeds. To evaluate the full “on-off” sequence of the L-dopa response, this analysis was repeated 11 times, at intervals of 10% of the L-dopa cycle. Each subject was analyzed on 3 separate days, with approximately 1 month between tests. Two-way repeated-measures analyses of covariance, with 2 within-subject factors (percentage of L-dopa cycle and day) and 1 covariate (height), were applied, and coefficients of variation were calculated to determine the extent of change in speed, SL, and ST over the L-dopa cycle and over the 3 days. Results. The subjects' overall mean gait speed was 70.39 cm/s, representing 55.4% of the age-related normative values. There were no effects of percentage of the L-dopa cycle or day or of the interaction of percentage of the L-dopa cycle and day on speed, SL, and ST. The coefficients of variation for speed and SL were consistently higher than the normative values, ranging from 13.5% to 23.8% and from 13.9% to 23.3% at 20% of the L-dopa cycle, respectively. Conclusion and Discussion. When interpreting spatiotemporal measurements of gait of patients with advanced PD, fluctuations can be extensive and may not follow a predictable pattern.

Key Words:
  • Gait
  • Levodopa
  • Motor fluctuations
  • Parkinson disease
  • Received December 18, 1997.
  • Accepted May 28, 1998.
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Vol 96 Issue 12 Table of Contents
Physical Therapy: 96 (12)

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Variability in Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics Over the Course of the L-dopa Cycle in People With Advanced Parkinson Disease
Marilyn MacKay-Lyons
Physical Therapy Oct 1998, 78 (10) 1083-1094;

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Variability in Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics Over the Course of the L-dopa Cycle in People With Advanced Parkinson Disease
Marilyn MacKay-Lyons
Physical Therapy Oct 1998, 78 (10) 1083-1094;
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  • Reliability and Validity of Force Platform Measures of Balance Impairment in Individuals With Parkinson Disease
  • Predictors of Reduced Frequency of Physical Activity 3 Months After Injury: Findings From the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study
  • Effects of Locomotor Exercise Intensity on Gait Performance in Individuals With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury
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