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Published on: June 18, 2018
Quantitative Gait Analysis in Patients with Huntington's Disease
Seon Jong Pyo1, Hanjun Kim1, Il Soo Kim1
1Department of Neurology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Patients with Huntington's disease (HD) exhibit altered gait, including shorter steps and slower walking velocity. Quantitative gait analysis is crucial for assessing these motor impairments in HD patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
- Biomechanical Analysis
Background:
- Gait disturbance significantly impacts the quality of life for individuals with Huntington's disease (HD).
- Understanding specific gait characteristics in HD is vital for developing effective management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare temporospatial gait parameters between patients with Huntington's disease and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- The study included 7 patients diagnosed with Huntington's disease (HD) confirmed by genetic analysis.
- Gait features were assessed using a gait analyzer and compared to 7 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- Patients with HD were evaluated using the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS).
Main Results:
- Patients with HD demonstrated decreased step and stride length, increased base of support, and higher variability in step and stride length.
- Slower walking velocity, an increased stance phase, and decreased single support time were observed in the HD group.
- Cadence remained similar between groups, but motor and behavioral scores in HD correlated with gait parameters.
Conclusions:
- Huntington's disease gait patterns are characterized by slowness, ataxia, and inefficiency, evidenced by increased variability, slower velocity, and altered gait cycle phases.
- Preserved cadence suggests compensatory mechanisms, but overall gait is compromised.
- Quantitative gait analysis is essential for accurately assessing and managing gait problems in Huntington's disease.
Objective:
Gait disturbance is the main factor contributing to a negative impact on quality of life in patients with Huntington's disease (HD). Understanding gait features in patients with HD is essential for planning a successful gait strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate temporospatial gait parameters in patients with HD compared with healthy controls.
Methods:
We investigated 7 patients with HD. Diagnosis was confirmed by genetic analysis, and patients were evaluated with the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Gait features were assessed with a gait analyzer. We compared the results of patients with HD to those of 7 age- and sex-matched normal controls.
Results:
Step length and stride length were decreased and base of support was increased in the HD group compared to the control group. In addition, coefficients of variability for step and stride length were increased in the HD group. The HD group showed slower walking velocity, an increased stance/swing phase in the gait cycle and a decreased proportion of single support time compared to the control group. Cadence did not differ significantly between groups. Among the UHDRS subscores, total motor score and total behavior score were positively correlated with step length, and total behavior score was positively correlated with walking velocity in patients with HD.
Conclusion:
Increased variability in step and stride length, slower walking velocity, increased stance phase, and decreased swing phase and single support time with preserved cadence suggest that HD gait patterns are slow, ataxic and ineffective. This study suggests that quantitative gait analysis is needed to assess gait problems in HD.
