Gait disturbances in patients with labyrinthine and cerebellar diseases

In order to clarify the peculiarities of gait disturbances appearing in patients with labyrinthine and cerebellar disturbances, the upward-downward (U-D), right-left (R-L) and forward-backward (F-B) movements of the head and activities of both soleus muscles were recorded by a polygraph and a data recorder with the aid of a five-channel telemeter. The power spectrum and correlation analyses were carried out with a PDP-11 computer. The following are results obtained from walking with the eyes closed. (1) On normal subjects, the power spectrum of U-D head movement indicated a rise at about 2 Hz. The autocorrelograms of U-D, R-L head movements and soleus muscle activities showed a chopping or sine wave process with an attenuation of amplitude. A cross correlogram revealed that when the head was inclined to the right side, the contralateral soleus muscle was active and when the head was inclined forward, one of the soleus muscles was active. (2) A patient with bilateral loss of labyrinthine function showed an increased R-L head sway and irregularly undulating F-B head movement, indicating disturbances of the labyrinthine righting and linear movement reflexes. (3) A patient with cerebellar atrophy indicated irregular U-D, R-L and F-B head movements. The soleus muscle activity changed irregularly.