Gait Profile Score and Movement Analysis Profile in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease during Cognitive Task

Gait disorders are common in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the concurrent performance of motor and cognitive tasks can have marked effects on gait. The Gait Profile Score (GPS) and the Movement Analysis Profile (MAP) were developed in order to summarize the data of kinematics and facilitate understanding of the results of gait analysis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of the GPS/MAP in the quantification of changes in gait during a concurrent cognitive load while walking in adults with and without PD. Fourteen patients with PD and nine healthy subjects participated in the study. All subjects performed single and dual walking tasks. The GPS/MAP was computed from three-dimensional gait analysis data. Differences were found between tasks for GPS (P < 0.05) and GVS (pelvic rotation, knee flexionextension and ankle dorsiflexion-plantarflexion) (P <0.05) in PD group. The results evidenced gait impairment during the dual task and suggest that GPS/MAP may be used to evaluate the effects of concurrent cognitive load while walking on patients with PD.