RESEARCH: Gait analysis of sporadic and hereditary spastic paraplegia

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Gait analysis of sporadic and hereditary spastic

paraplegia.

Klebe S, Stolze H, Kopper F, Lorenz D, Wenzelburger R,

Volkmann J, Porschke H, Deuschl G.

Neurologische Klinik, Christian-Albrechts-Universitat,

Niemannsweg 147, 24105, Kiel, Germany.

OBJECTIVES: Sporadic (SSP) and hereditary spastic

paraplegias (HSP) are clinically and genetically

heterogeneous disorders, which are characterised by a

slowly progressive spastic paraparesis. Initial

symptoms and the rate of progression are variable even

among members of the same family. Spastic paraparesis

is the major and most disabling clinical symptom and

was assessed with gait analysis using a

three-dimensional infrared movement analysis system.

METHODS AND RESULTS: 22 patients with clinically

and/or genetically confirmed SSP/HSP were compared

with age-matched control subjects. Significantly lower

values were found for gait velocity, stride length,

step height and the range of motion of the knee-angle.

The gait pattern is characterised by a severe

spasticity of both legs with only mild paresis. The

balance-related gait parameters show a broad-based

gait without inwardly rotated feet. No correlation was

found between disease duration and the severity of the

gait disorder and the central motor conduction time to

the leg muscles and the abnormal gait parameters. The

gait pattern did not differ between the 7 SSP cases

and the 15 HSP cases. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that

three-dimensional gait analysis can uncover specific

features of such rare gait disorders, and may be used

as an objective tool to quantify the impairment of

gait parameters in patients with SSP/HSP and thus can

be used to monitor disease progression and the effect

of therapeutic interventions.

SOURCE: J Neurol. 2004 May;251(5):571-8.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

5164190 & dopt=Abstract