Evaluation of the turning characteristics according to the severity of Parkinson disease during the timed up and go test

Background Patients with Parkinson disease (PD) experience problems such as falls and freezing of gait during walking and turning in daily activities. However, few studies have examined the relationship between simultaneous turning tasks and the severity of PD. Aim To investigate turning characteristics in patients with PD using three-dimensional (3D) analysis during the timed up and go (TUG) test. Methods Thirty individuals performed the TUG test under 3D motion analysis: 10 patients with Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stages 2.5 and 3.0 PD (group I), 10 patients with H&Y stage 2.0 PD (group II), and 10 healthy older adult controls. Spatiotemporal and kinematic variables were analyzed during the TUG test with a Vicon 3-D motion analysis system. Results The walking speed, step length, step length asymmetry index, range of motion of the hip, knee, and shoulder joints, and foot clearance height significantly differed between patients with PD and the controls. The step length and foot clearance height were significantly different between groups I and II. Discussion The step length and foot clearance are different between the severity levels of PD, and the TUG test may be useful for identifying turning characteristics in patients with PD. Conclusions Patients with PD exhibited significant differences in all variables of interest compared to the controls. The step length and foot clearance height as well as the TUG test during the turning phase may be helpful for measuring turning in patients with different severity levels of PD.