Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 1994, Vol 57, 1532-1534

PAPERS

Ability to modulate walking cadence remains intact in Parkinson's disease

ME Morris, R Iansek, TA Matyas and JJ Summers
Geriatric Neurology Research Unit, Kingston Centre, Australia.

Gait hypokinesia (slowness) is a characteristic feature of Parkinson's disease. It is not clear, however, whether the slowness is due to a problem in regulation of the timing of consecutive steps or the control of stride size. Examination of cadence control for slow to medium walking speeds has shown an increase in step frequency that was a compensation for reduced stride length. In this investigation the ability of Parkinsonian patients to modulate their cadence (steps per minute) at the fast walking speeds exhibited by age and height matched controls was examined. The findings indicated that cadence control remains unaffected throughout its entire range in Parkinson's disease and that gait hypokinesia is directly attributable to an inability to internally generate sufficiently large steps.

© 1994 by Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Verghese, C. Wang, R. B Lipton, R. Holtzer, and X. Xue Quantitative gait dysfunction and risk of cognitive decline and dementia J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, September 1, 2007; 78(9): 929 - 935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E Morris Locomotor Training in People With Parkinson Disease Physical Therapy, October 1, 2006; 86(10): 1426 - 1435. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Sidaway, J. Anderson, G. Danielson, L. Martin, and G. Smith Effects of Long-Term Gait Training Using Visual Cues in an Individual With Parkinson Disease Physical Therapy, February 1, 2006; 86(2): 186 - 194. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Wu and M. Hallett A functional MRI study of automatic movements in patients with Parkinson's disease Brain, October 1, 2005; 128(10): 2250 - 2259. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Lim, E van Wegen, C de Goede, M Deutekom, A Nieuwboer, A Willems, D Jones, L Rochester, and G Kwakkel Effects of external rhythmical cueing on gait in patients with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review Clinical Rehabilitation, July 1, 2005; 19(7): 695 - 713. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L O Ramig, S Sapir, S Countryman, A A Pawlas, C O'Brien, M Hoehn, and L L Thompson Intensive voice treatment (LSVT(R)) for patients with Parkinson's disease: a 2 year follow up J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, October 1, 2001; 71(4): 493 - 498. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Faist, J. Xie, D. Kurz, W. Berger, C. Maurer, P. Pollak, and C. H. Lucking Effect of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on gait in Parkinson's disease Brain, August 1, 2001; 124(8): 1590 - 1600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. N. Lewis, W. D. Byblow, and S. E. Walt Stride length regulation in Parkinson's disease: the use of extrinsic, visual cues Brain, October 1, 2000; 123(10): 2077 - 2090. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E Morris Movement Disorders in People With Parkinson Disease: A Model for Physical Therapy Physical Therapy, June 1, 2000; 80(6): 578 - 597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Ebersbach, M. Sojer, F. Valldeoriola, J. Wissel, J. Muller, E. Tolosa, and W. Poewe Comparative analysis of gait in Parkinson's disease, cerebellar ataxia and subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy Brain, July 1, 1999; 122(7): 1349 - 1355. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-P. Azulay, S. Mesure, B. Amblard, O. Blin, I. Sangla, and J. Pouget Visual control of locomotion in Parkinson's disease Brain, January 1, 1999; 122(1): 111 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]