Article

Although hydrotherapy is one of the physical therapies adopted to optimize gait
rehabilitation in people with Parkinson disease, the quantitative measurement of
gait-related outcomes has not been provided yet.
This work aims to document the
gait improvements in a group of parkinsonians after a hydrotherapy program
through 2D and 3D underwater and on land gait analysis.
Thirty-four parkinsonians
and twenty-two controls were enrolled, divided into two different cohorts. In the
first one, 2 groups of patients underwent underwater or land based walking
training; controls underwent underwater walking training. Hence pre-treatment 2D
underwater and on land gait analysis were performed, together with post-treatment
on land gait analysis. Considering that current literature documented a reduced
movement amplitude in parkinsonians across all lower limb joints in all movement
planes, 3D underwater and on land gait analysis were performed on a second cohort
of subjects (10 parkinsonians and 10 controls) who underwent underwater gait
training. Baseline land 2D and 3D gait analysis in parkinsonians showed shorter
stride length and slower speed than controls, in agreement with previous
findings. Comparison between underwater and on land gait analysis showed
reduction in stride length, cadence and speed on both parkinsonians and controls.
Although patients who underwent underwater treatment exhibited significant
changes on spatiotemporal parameters and sagittal plane lower limb kinematics, 3D
gait analysis documented a significant (p<0.05) improvement in all movement
planes. These data deserve attention for research directions promoting the
optimal recovery and maintenance of walking ability.
CI - Crown Copyright (c) 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS