Article

Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is an autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disease
characterized by progressive muscle weakness and sensory loss, balance deficits,
and gait ataxia. Gait and balance impairments become worse as the disease
progresses, but limited research has quantitatively assessed these deficits in
adults with FA.
The purpose of this study was to analyze gait and balance in this
population and investigate the relationship between these variables. Eight
subjects with genetically confirmed FA (29.4+/-9.0 years) and eight healthy,
matched control subjects (29.6+/-9.1 years) participated in this study.
Spatiotemporal gait parameters were examined using the GAITRite Walkway System
while balance was examined utilizing the Biodex Balance System SD and the Berg
Balance Scale (BBS). The FA group exhibited approximately 50% slower gait
velocity and 32% shorter step and stride lengths compared to the control group
for both comfortable and fast walking (p<0.001). Further, stride length
variability in the FA group was 3.4 and 2.7 times that of controls for
comfortable and fast walking, respectively (p<0.01). Subjects with FA took 72%
longer to complete the limits of stability (LOS) test and attained an overall
directional control score that was 50% that of controls (p<0.05). Lastly, age at
FA symptom onset correlated with stride length variability during fast walking
(p<0.05), and BBS and LOS test scores correlated with stride length variability
during both comfortable and fast walking (p<0.05). Results demonstrate that
adults with FA have significantly impaired gait and balance and several measures of these impairments are correlated.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS