Abstract

Abstract A recent study reporting significantly reduced symmetry in arm swing amplitude in early Parkinson’s disease (PD), as measured during gait by auditory cues velocity, led to this investigation of arm swing symmetry and amplitude in PD. The subjects were 14 elderly patients diagnosed with PD. Patients were measured of three conditions performed in random order: slow, general, fast. The auditory cue velocity consisted of a metronome beat ±20% than the subject’s general gait speed. Using a motion analysis measurement system, changes in kinematic variables were compared to arm swing analysis. PD groups showed a highly significant reduction of the arm swing amplitude on the more affected body side(MAS)( p <.05). Comparison between the auditory cues velocity, there was a significant increase arm swing amplitude in fast velocity gait than slow and general velocity gait( p <.05). We conclude that motion analysis during gait by auditory cues velocity allows reliable investigation of asymmetric arm movements in early PD patients which attenuate with ongoing disease. The measurement of limb kinematics during gait by auditory cues velocity can broaden our methodological line-up for the analysis of complex motor programs in movement disorders.

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