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BACKGROUND: Gait deficits in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) are triggered by circumstances requiring gait adaptation. The effects of gait adaptation training on a split-belt treadmill (SBT) are unknown in PD. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of repeated SBT versus tied-belt treadmill (TBT) training on retention and automaticity of gait adaptation and its transfer to over-ground walking and turning. METHODS: We recruited 52 individuals with PD, of whom 22 were freezers, in a multi-center randomized single-blind controlled study. Training consisted of 4 weeks of supervised treadmill training delivered three times per week. Tests were conducted pre- and post-training and at 4-weeks follow-up. Turning (primary outcome) and gait were assessed over-ground and during a gait adaptation protocol on the treadmill. All tasks were performed with and without a cognitive task. RESULTS: We found that SBT-training improved gait adaptation with moderate to large effects sizes (P

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a complex symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD) which is both elusive to elicit and varied in its presentation. These complexities present a challenge to measuring FOG in a sensitive and reliable way, precluding therapeutic advancement. Objective: We investigated the reliability, validity and responsiveness of manual video-annotations of the turning in place task and compared it to the sensor-based FOG ratio. Methods: Forty-five optimally medicated people with PD and FOG performed rapid alternating 360° turns without and with an auditory stroop dual task, thrice over two consecutive days.Tasks were recorded with video and inertial sensors placed on the lower back and shins.Interrater reliability between three raters, criterion validity with self-reported FOG, and responsiveness to single-session split-belt treadmill (SBT) training were investigated and contrasted with the sensor-based FOG ratio. Results: Visual ratings showed excellent agreement between raters for the percent time frozen (%TF) (ICC = 0.99), the median duration of a FOG episode (ICC = 0.90) and the number of FOG episodes (ICC = 0.86). Dual tasking improved the sensitivity and validity of visual FOG ratings resulting in increased FOG detection, criterion validity with self-reported FOG ratings, and responsiveness to a short SBT intervention. The sensor-based FOG ratio on the other hand, showed complex FOG presentation-contingent relationships with visual and self-reported FOG ratings, and limited responsiveness to SBT training. Conclusions: Manual video-annotations of FOG during dual task turning in place generate reliable, valid, and sensitive outcomes for investigating therapeutic effects on FOG. ispartof: Movement Disorders vol:37 issue:2 pages:269-278 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) causes severe patient burden despite pharmacological management. Exercise and training are therefore advocated as important adjunct therapies. In this meta-analysis, we assess the existing evidence for such interventions to reduce FOG, and further examine which type of training helps the restoration of gait function in particular. The primary meta-analysis across 41 studies and 1838 patients revealed a favorable moderate effect size (ES = −0.37) of various training modalities for reducing subjective FOG-severity (p p = 0.007). We further revealed that dedicated training aimed at reducing FOG episodes (ES = −0.24) or ameliorating the underlying correlates of FOG (ES = −0.40) was moderately effective (p p = 0.12). Relevantly, no retention effects were seen after cessation of training (ES = −0.08, p = 0.36). This review thereby supports the implementation of targeted training as a treatment for FOG with the need for long-term engagement.

Background: Dual-tasking is challenging for people with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait (PD+FOG) and can exacerbate freezing episodes and falls. Split-belt treadmill training (SBT) is a novel tool to train complex gait and may improve dual-task (DT) walking and turning. Objective: To investigate the single-session effects of SBT on DT walking and DT turning performance in PD+FOG and older adults (OA), compared to regular treadmill training. Methods: Forty-five PD+FOG and 36 OA participated in a single training session (30 min). They were randomized into one of four training groups: (A) SB75—steady belt speed ratio 0.75:1; (B) SB50—steady belt speed ratio 0.5:1; (C) SBCR—changing belt speed ratios between 0.75:1 and 0.5:1; and (D) Tied-Belt (TBT). Over-ground straight-line gait and an alternating turning in place task combined with a cognitive dual-task (DT) (auditory Stroop) were assessed pre- and post-training, and the following day (retention). Constrained longitudinal data analysis was used to investigate the training effects for all participants and for PD+FOG alone. Results: DT gait speed improved at post-training for all groups (p < 0.001). However, SBT (SB50 and SBCR) led to larger post-training improvements compared to TBT, which were still visible at retention (SB50). For mean DT turning speed and Stroop response time while walking, only SBT groups showed significant improvements at post-training or retention. DT stride length, peak DT turning speed, and Stroop performance index while walking also showed larger gains in SBT compared to TBT. Results for PD+FOG alone showed similar effects although with smaller effect sizes. Conclusions: A single session of SBT in PD+FOG and OA showed larger short-term effects on DT walking and turning compared to TBT. Cognitive DT performance was also improved in SBT, likely due to reduced cortical control of gait. These results illustrate the potential for SBT to improve DT during complex gait and possibly reduce fall risk in clinical and healthy populations. ispartof: Frontiers In Neurology vol:11 pages:1-14 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: Published online

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether impairments across cognitive and affective domains provide additional information to sensorimotor deficits for fall prediction among various populations. DESIGN: We pooled data from 5 studies for this observational analysis of prospective falls. SETTING: Community or low-level care facility. PARTICIPANTS: Older people (N=1090; 74.0±9.4y; 579 female); 500 neurologically intact (NI) older people and 3 groups with neurologic disorders (cognitive impairment, n=174; multiple sclerosis (MS), n=111; Parkinson disease, n=305). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensorimotor function was assessed with the Physiological Profile Assessment, cognitive function with tests of executive function, affect with questionnaires of depression, and concern about falling with falls efficacy questionnaires. These variables were associated with fall incidence rates, obtained prospectively over 6-12 months. RESULTS: Poorer sensorimotor function was associated with falls (incidence rate ratio [95% CI], 1.46 [1.28-1.66]). Impaired executive function was the strongest predictor of falls overall (2.91 [2.27-3.73]), followed by depressive symptoms (2.07 [1.56-2.75]) and concern about falling (2.02 [1.61-2.55]). Associations were similar among groups, except for a weaker relationship with executive impairment in NI persons and a stronger relationship with concern about falling in persons with MS. Multivariable analyses showed that executive impairment, poorer sensorimotor performance, depressive symptoms, and concern about falling were independently associated with falls. CONCLUSIONS: Deficits in cognition (executive function) and affect (depressive symptoms) and concern about falling are as important as sensorimotor function for fall prediction. These domains should be included in fall risk assessments for older people and clinical groups. ispartof: ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION vol:102 issue:5 pages:874-880 ispartof: location:United States status: published

BACKGROUND: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common gait deficit in Parkinson's disease. The New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q) is a widely used and valid tool to quantify freezing of gait severity. However, its test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the NFOG-Q. METHODS: Two groups of freezers, involved in 2 previous rehabilitation trials, completed the NFOG-Q at 2 time points (T1 and T2), separated by a 6-week control period without active intervention. Sample 1 (N = 57) was measured in ON and sample 2 (N = 14) in OFF. We calculated various reliability statistics for the NFOG-Q scores between T1 and T2 as well as correlation coefficients with clinical descriptors to explain the variability between time points. RESULTS: In sample 1 the NFOG-Q showed modest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.68 [0.52-0.80]) without differences between T1 and T2. However, a minimal detectable change of 9.95 (7.90-12.27) points emerged for the total score (range 28 points, relative minimal detectable change of 35.5%). Sample 2 showed largely similar results. We found no associations between cognitive-related or disease severity-related outcomes and variability in NFOG-Q scores. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the NFOG-Q is insufficiently reliable or responsive to detect small effect sizes, as changes need to go beyond 35% to surpass measurement error. Therefore, we warrant caution in using the NFOG-Q as a primary outcome in clinical trials. These results emphasize the need for robust and objective freezing of gait outcome measures. ispartof: MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE vol:7 issue:2 pages:199-205 ispartof: location:United States status: published

According to the embodied cognition perspective, cognitive systems and perceptuo-motor systems are deeply intertwined and exert a causal effect on each other. A prediction following from this idea is that cognitive activity can result in subtle changes in observable movement. In one experiment, we tested whether reading various sentences resulted in changes in postural sway. Sentences symbolized various human activities involving high, low, or no physical effort. Dutch participants stood upright on a force plate, measuring the body center of pressure, while reading a succession of sentences. High physical effort sentences resulted in more postural sway (greater SD) than low physical effort sentences. This effect only showed up in medio-lateral sway but not anterio-posterior sway. This suggests that sentence comprehension was accompanied by subtle motoric activity, likely mirroring the various activities symbolized in the sentences. We conclude that semantic processing reaches the motor periphery, leading to increased postural activity. Refereed/Peer-reviewed