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Computerized Dynamic Posturography for Postural Control Assessment in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

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Published on: December 11, 2013

Walking stability using harmonic ratios in Parkinson's disease.

Kristin A Lowry¹, Ann L Smiley-Oyen, Andrew J Carrel

¹Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA. klowry@iastate.edu

Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society

|November 1, 2008

Summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) impairs global walking stability, particularly in the mediolateral and anterior-posterior planes. Harmonic ratios (HRs) reveal reduced trunk rhythm and stability in individuals with PD compared to healthy adults.

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Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

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Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Published on: July 24, 2019

Area of Science:

Biomechanics
Neurology
Gait Analysis

Background:

Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly affects gait kinematics, but upper body dynamics remain less understood.
Harmonic ratios (HRs) quantify trunk acceleration rhythm, serving as a measure of global walking stability across different planes.
Lower HR values indicate diminished walking stability.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare harmonic ratios (HRs) between individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy older adults.
To investigate the relationship between HRs and various stride parameters in PD.
To assess the utility of HRs in understanding global walking stability in PD.

Main Methods:

Eleven individuals with PD and eleven healthy older adults walked at a self-selected pace.
Trunk accelerations were recorded using a triaxial accelerometer.
Harmonic ratios (HRs) and spatiotemporal gait parameters were calculated and normalized for gait velocity.

Main Results:

Individuals with PD demonstrated significantly lower HRs across all three planes (vertical, anterior-posterior, mediolateral) compared to controls.
The most substantial differences in HRs were observed in the mediolateral and anterior-posterior planes.
Increased stride time variability in PD was strongly correlated with lower anterior-posterior HRs, while disease presence correlated with mediolateral HRs.

Conclusions:

Harmonic ratios reveal reduced global walking stability in individuals with Parkinson's disease, particularly in the mediolateral and anterior-posterior planes.
HRs provide unique insights into walking stability that complement traditional stride parameters.
Stride time variability is closely associated with these direct measures of global walking stability, highlighting its importance in PD.