Gait and axial postural abnormalities correlations in Parkinson's disease: A multicenter quantitative study

Introduction: Gait and axial postural abnormalities (PA) are common and disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). The interplay between them has been poorly explored.Methods: A standardized protocol encompassing videos and photos for posture and gait analysis of PD patients with a clinically defined PA (MDS-UPDRS-III item 3.13 > 0) was used in 6 movement disorder centers. A comprehensive evaluation was performed to clarify the association between gait performance and the presence and severity of PA.Results: 225 PD patients were enrolled: 57 had severe PA, 149 mild PA, and 19 did not meet criteria for PA, according to a recent consensus agreement on PA definition. PD patients with severe PA were significantly older (p:0.001), with longer disease duration (p:0.007), worse MDS-UPDRS-II and -III scores and axial sub-scores (p < 0.0005), higher LEDD (p:0.002) and HY stage (p < 0.0005), and a significantly lower velocity (p < 0.001) and cadence (p:0.021), if compared to mild PA patients. The multiple regression analysis evaluating gait parameters and degrees of trunk/neck flexion showed that higher degrees of lumbar anterior trunk flexion were correlated with lower step length (OR-0.244; p:0.014) and lower velocity (OR-0.005; p:0.028).Conclusions: Our results highlight the possible impact of severe anterior trunk flection on PD patients' gait, with a specific detrimental effect on gait velocity and step length. Personalized rehabilitation strategies should be elaborated based on the different features of PA, aiming to target a combined treatment of postural and spe-cifically related gait pattern alterations.

Automated summary

The study indicates that axial postural abnormalities, particularly severe anterior trunk flexion, have a detrimental impact on gait in Parkinson's disease patients, resulting in decreased gait velocity and step length. Personalized rehabilitation strategies should be developed based on the different features of postural abnormalities to target a combined treatment approach.