Gait variability in Parkinson’s disease: influence of walking speed and dopaminergic treatment

Abstract Objectives: To study the effects of levodopa and walking speed on gait variability in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: Thirty-three individuals with PD were studied. Their mean age was 70·61±9·23 year. The average time since diagnosis was 9·65±5·80 year. Gait variability was studied while ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ dopaminergic medication when the subjects walked at their usual and fastest speeds. Results: Variability of step time, double support time, stride length and stride velocity decreased significantly (P=0·037; P=0·037; P=0·022; P=0·043, respectively) after dopaminergic treatment. When subjects increased walking speed, the variability of stride length and stride velocity decreased significantly (P=0·038 and P=0·004, respectively) both while ‘OFF’ and ‘ON’ levodopa. Increasing walking speed did not change the variability of step time and double support time regardless of medication status. Conclusions: Levodopa decreased gait variability in persons with PD. Stride length and stride ...