Comparative Gait Analysis in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Parkinson's Disease

Background: Although changes to gait are an important clinical feature of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), systematic analyses have not been well examined, especially in comparison to Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: The characteristics of gait in 20 PSP patients (14 males and 6 females) were evaluated in comparison to 124 PD patients (64 males and 60 females) and 24 controls, that is, healthy age-matched adults (5 males and 19 females). Gait in patients was recorded in a 10-m walking test at a self-selected speed. During this time, patients felt most comfortable while wearing a new portable triaxial accelerometer rhythmogram device. Gait variables among the 3 groups were compared. Results: Both PSP and PD patients shared the following similar hypokinetic gait characteristics: decreased velocity, step length, cadence and mean acceleration. Step time and variability in step time were mutually related. However, among the 3 groups, PSP patients showed characteristically low vertical displacement and a higher acceleration than PD patients at the same cadence. Conclusion: Although PSP and PD patients showed similar hypokinetic gait, a reduced vertical displacement characterized walking in PSP patients, differing substantially from the characteristics of walking displayed by PD patients.