Comprehensive Analysis of Walking Characteristics of Patients with Parkinson’s disease: Impact of Freezing of Gait

Abstract Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) suffer from walking disturbances. This study was done to comprehensively analyze walking characteristics of PD, including forward and backward walking and turning. Impacts of freezing of gait (FoG) were also determined. Forward and backward walking and 360° turning was recorded at preferred speed in defined ‘off’ state. PD showed narrower step length, slower walking speed, and higher asymmetry index (AI) of step length during forward and backward walking. During turning, PD had more turning steps, longer turning time, and shorter step length than control. There was no difference at forward walking according to FoG, but freezer showed narrower step length and decreased range of motion in ankle joints at backward walking. Freezer showed longer step time and higher AI of step length at turning. The severity of FoG was correlated with step length and walking speed during forward and backward walking, total step count, total step time, and walking speed during turning. Comprehensive analysis showed that PD had narrower step length, slower walking speed, and increased asymmetry of step length. These features were the most prominent during turning, followed by backward and forward walking. Impacts of FoG were also the most prominent during turning.