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Postural Control Determinants of Gait Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease

Franchino Porciuncula1, Paula Wasserman2, Karen S Marder2,3

  • 1Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, MA, USA.

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
|April 30, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Postural control and gait deficits begin early in Huntington's disease (HD), worsening with disease progression. These postural impairments significantly contribute to gait dysfunction, suggesting the need for early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Biomechanical Engineering
  • Movement Science

Background:

  • Gait dysfunction is a significant challenge in Huntington's disease (HD).
  • The relationship between postural control deficits and gait problems across the HD spectrum (pre-manifest HD [pHD] to manifest HD [mHD]) is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interplay between posture and gait in individuals with HD.
  • To quantify postural control and gait deficits across the HD spectrum.
  • To determine the contribution of postural control impairments to gait dysfunction in HD.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized wearable sensors to measure postural control (Jerk, Total Sway Area) under sensory-challenging conditions.
  • Assessed gait quality (e.g., stride length, cadence, %stance) and stride-to-stride variability at self-selected pace.
  • Compared outcomes between healthy controls (n=10), pHD (n=17), and mHD (n=11) groups, and used regression analyses to link postural control to gait deficits.

Main Results:

  • Both postural control and gait impairments were observed in pHD and significantly worsened in mHD (P < .05).
  • Postural control deficits accounted for 14% to 39% of the variance in gait dysfunction, including gait quality and variability measures (P < .05).

Conclusions:

  • Postural control and gait deficits emerge in the pre-manifest stage of HD and progress with the disease, underscoring the importance of early interventions.
  • Postural control impairments are a substantial contributor to gait deficits in HD, not merely a coincidental finding.
  • Further research is needed to integrate these posture-gait findings into clinical gait rehabilitation strategies for HD.
Abstract

Keywords:
Huntington’s diseaselocomotionpostureprecision rehabilitationwearable sensors

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