Differential associations between retro walking versus forward walking, axial motor features and body composition in...

Postural instability and gait difficulties (PIGD) are a significant cause of falls, and immobility in Parkinson's disease (PD). Most gait assessments are based on assessing forward walking compared to retro walking. Retro walking is more difficult because of absence of visual cues, and more complex multisensory processing. Little is known about clinical PIGD motor features, mobility and body composition correlates of retro-walking compared to forward walking in PD.

To examine the associations between retro and forward walking and PIGD in PD.

78 PD underwent clinical and body composition assessments. Multivariate logistic and linear forward stepwise regression analyses with were conducted to examine associations of retro- and forward walking times with PIGD motor features (falls, imbalance, FoG) and with clinical, body composition, and motor parameters.

Logistic regression revealed that retro walking was associated with impaired balance (p = 0.028), and falls (p = 0.027) while forward walking was associated with FoG (p = 0.047). Moreover, Mini-BESTest reactive postural control (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p = 0.001), lean mass (p = 0.01), and appendicular lean mass index (p = 0.016) were associated with retro walking, while only Mini-BESTest dynamic gait (p = 0.002) was associated with forward walking.

There are unique associations between specific PIGD features and body composition for retro walking. Retro walking may be used to assess impaired balance and falls in PD while forward walking could be used for FoG. Poor reactive postural control, lower lean mass and higher waist circumference associated with retro walking while poor dynamic gait associated with forward walking.