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Gait function in adults with Williams syndrome.

Darren R Hocking1, Nicole J Rinehart, Jennifer L McGinley

  • 1Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Building 1, 270 Ferntree Gully Road, Notting Hill, VIC, 3168, Australia. Darren.Hocking@med.monash.edu.au

Experimental Brain Research
|October 9, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Adults with Williams syndrome (WS) exhibit hypokinetic gait, characterized by slower speeds and shorter strides but increased stepping frequency. This gait pattern may compensate for postural instability, with performance IQ linked to stride length.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Gait Analysis
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Early reports suggest gait abnormalities in WS, but systematic investigation is lacking.
  • Understanding gait dysfunction is crucial for managing WS-related motor challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically investigate gait characteristics in adults with Williams syndrome.
  • To compare gait parameters between WS adults and a neurologically normal control group.
  • To explore the relationship between gait and cognitive function (Performance IQ) in WS.

Main Methods:

  • Gait analysis was performed on adults with WS and a control group using the GAITRite walkway.
  • Participants walked at self-selected slow, preferred, and fast speeds.

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  • Key gait parameters including speed, stride length, cadence, and variability were measured.

    • Main Results:

    • The WS group displayed hypokinetic gait: reduced gait speed and stride length with disproportionately increased cadence at faster speeds.
    • Increased stride length variability and a broad-based stepping pattern were observed in the WS group, suggesting compensatory strategies for postural instability.
    • Performance IQ significantly correlated with stride length in individuals with WS.

    Conclusions:

    • Adults with Williams syndrome exhibit distinct gait alterations, including hypokinetic features and compensatory postural strategies.
    • The findings suggest a link between gait dysfunction, postural instability, and cognitive abilities in WS.
    • Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings and elucidate the neural underpinnings of gait in WS.