[Kinematic and EMG pattern of parkinsonian gait]

To clarify characteristic pattern of parkinsonian gait, gait analysis was performed by measuring floor reaction forces, angular displacements, and surface electromyograms on patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and normal controls. PD patients walked with slow speed, shortened stride, prolonged double support period, and restricted movement of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Muscle activity of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles reduced, and correspondingly pressures for step-in and kick-off decreased. These changes were correlated with severity of clinical scale. Despite these alterations, reciprocal activity of the distal antagonistic muscles was preserved. We conclude that these characteristic alterations reflect distorted mechanisms for gait control in PD and could be one of useful parameters for evaluation of pathophysiology of parkinsonian gait.