Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy Subjects
This study aimed to investigate and compare the vertical Ground Reaction Forces (vGRFs) of patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) and healthy subjects (HS) when the confounding effect of walking speed was absent. Therefore, eighteen PwPD and eighteen age- and linear walking speed-matched HS were r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/1/179 |
| _version_ | 1797358147809050624 |
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| author | Marica Giardini Anna Maria Turcato Ilaria Arcolin Stefano Corna Marco Godi |
| author_facet | Marica Giardini Anna Maria Turcato Ilaria Arcolin Stefano Corna Marco Godi |
| author_sort | Marica Giardini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study aimed to investigate and compare the vertical Ground Reaction Forces (vGRFs) of patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) and healthy subjects (HS) when the confounding effect of walking speed was absent. Therefore, eighteen PwPD and eighteen age- and linear walking speed-matched HS were recruited. Using plantar pressure insoles, participants walked along linear and curvilinear paths at self-selected speeds. Interestingly, PwPD exhibited similar walking speed to HS during curvilinear trajectories (<i>p</i> = 0.48) and similar vGRF during both linear and curvilinear paths. In both groups, vGRF at initial contact and terminal stance was higher during linear walking, while vGRF at mid-stance was higher in curvilinear trajectories. Similarly, the time to peak vGRF at each phase showed no significant group differences. The vGRF timing variability was different between the two groups, particularly at terminal stance (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, PwPD and HS showed similar modifications in vGRF and a similar reduction in gait speed during curvilinear paths when matched for linear walking speed. This emphasized the importance of considering walking speed when assessing gait dynamics in PwPD. This study also suggests the possibility of the variability of specific temporal measures in differentiating the gait patterns of PwPD versus those of HS, even in the early stages of the disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:57:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2267f5bb2864b9d8fe58a86bef8f421 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:57:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2267f5bb2864b9d8fe58a86bef8f4212024-01-10T15:08:55ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-12-0124117910.3390/s24010179Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy SubjectsMarica Giardini0Anna Maria Turcato1Ilaria Arcolin2Stefano Corna3Marco Godi4Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Institute of Veruno, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, ItalyRehabilitation Department, The Clavadel—The Geoghegan Group, 1 Pit Farm Road, Guildford GU1 2JH, Surrey, UKDivision of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Institute of Veruno, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, ItalyDivision of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Institute of Veruno, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, ItalyDivision of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Institute of Veruno, 28013 Gattico-Veruno, ItalyThis study aimed to investigate and compare the vertical Ground Reaction Forces (vGRFs) of patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) and healthy subjects (HS) when the confounding effect of walking speed was absent. Therefore, eighteen PwPD and eighteen age- and linear walking speed-matched HS were recruited. Using plantar pressure insoles, participants walked along linear and curvilinear paths at self-selected speeds. Interestingly, PwPD exhibited similar walking speed to HS during curvilinear trajectories (<i>p</i> = 0.48) and similar vGRF during both linear and curvilinear paths. In both groups, vGRF at initial contact and terminal stance was higher during linear walking, while vGRF at mid-stance was higher in curvilinear trajectories. Similarly, the time to peak vGRF at each phase showed no significant group differences. The vGRF timing variability was different between the two groups, particularly at terminal stance (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, PwPD and HS showed similar modifications in vGRF and a similar reduction in gait speed during curvilinear paths when matched for linear walking speed. This emphasized the importance of considering walking speed when assessing gait dynamics in PwPD. This study also suggests the possibility of the variability of specific temporal measures in differentiating the gait patterns of PwPD versus those of HS, even in the early stages of the disease.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/1/179curvilinear walkinggaitgait variabilityParkinson’s diseaseplantar pressurerehabilitation |
| spellingShingle | Marica Giardini Anna Maria Turcato Ilaria Arcolin Stefano Corna Marco Godi Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy Subjects Sensors curvilinear walking gait gait variability Parkinson’s disease plantar pressure rehabilitation |
| title | Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy Subjects |
| title_full | Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy Subjects |
| title_fullStr | Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy Subjects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy Subjects |
| title_short | Vertical Ground Reaction Forces in Parkinson’s Disease: A Speed-Matched Comparative Analysis with Healthy Subjects |
| title_sort | vertical ground reaction forces in parkinson s disease a speed matched comparative analysis with healthy subjects |
| topic | curvilinear walking gait gait variability Parkinson’s disease plantar pressure rehabilitation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/1/179 |
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