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This study aims to objectively quantify and describe the diurnal patterns of physical activity (PA) in people with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD) with mild-moderate disability. Eighteen pwPD wore a tri-axial accelerometer on their nondominant... more
This study aims to objectively quantify and describe the diurnal patterns of physical activity (PA) in people with Parkinson’s disease (pwPD) with mild-moderate disability. Eighteen pwPD wore a tri-axial accelerometer on their nondominant wrist 24/h day for 3 months. Data was processed using three different algorithms previously validated for PD and for healthy older individuals, to calculate daily steps and calculate amount and intensity of PA. The results show that participants tend to perform higher level of PA in the morning time slots and to be more sedentary in afternoon and evening. Such findings might help clinicians in suggesting proper strategies either to increase PA levels or optimally distribute it across the whole day.
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Abstract Background: Gait analysis is a reliable tool to characterise ambulation in Charcot-Marie-Tooth, the obtained are complex data makes its use scarce in clinical practice. The use of synthetic measures may enable the clinician to... more
Abstract Background: Gait analysis is a reliable tool to characterise ambulation in Charcot-Marie-Tooth, the obtained are complex data makes its use scarce in clinical practice. The use of synthetic measures may enable the clinician to easily interpret gait kinematics in Charcot-Marie-Tooth. Aims: To test the usefulness of Gait Profile Score as a method to quantify and monitor kinematic gait alterations in Charcot-Marie-Tooth. Methods: A group of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth and a control group underwent Gait Analysis. Neurological impairment was evaluated by means of the Charcot Marie Tooth neuropathy score in his original form and in the Rasch Analysis revised form. Differences in Kinematics scores induced by the pathology were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The relationship between gait parameters and Charcot Marie Tooth neuropathy score was assessed by means of the Spearman correlation. Results: Twenty patients were enrolled. Mann-Whitney U test revealed a significant effect of the pathology on Gait Profile Score (p < 0.001). Charcot Marie Tooth neuropathy score was positively correlated with Gait Profile Score (Rho = 0.708, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Gait profile score can differentiate Charcot Marie Tooth from unaffected people and to quantify ambulation impairment, also identifying the joints more affected by the disease. Implications for rehabilitation Physiotherapy and orthotics constitute the sole possible clinical approach for Charcot Marie Tooth, but the clinical scales are scarcely effective for assessing the rehabilitative outcome. Synthetic measures are able to summarize Charcot Marie tooth kinematics in a single score, and Gait Profile Score is able to differentiate patients with Charcot Marie tooth from healthy controls. Gait Profile Score is related to clinical disability as measured by the Charcot Marie tooth neuropathy score.
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BACKGROUND The dual task paradigm (the simultaneous performance of motor and cognitive task) is used in a laboratory setting to evaluate walking impairments that affect patients' daily lives. Although promising, it is poorly... more
BACKGROUND The dual task paradigm (the simultaneous performance of motor and cognitive task) is used in a laboratory setting to evaluate walking impairments that affect patients' daily lives. Although promising, it is poorly standardized and neither the cognitive task nor the motor task have been validated in a matched healthy control group (HC) for multiple sclerosis (MS). OBJECTIVE Our aim was to set up a standardized instrument to evaluate cognitive motor interference in MS using the interference test par excellence: the stroop colour word test (SCWT). METHODS Patients with MS and HC underwent 3D gait analysis with a dual task protocol, using the SCWT as a cognitive task. Gait performance impairment during the dual task was evaluated by dual task cost (DTC). A MANOVA was used to verify the effect of status (MS, HC) on DTC, calculated for the spatiotemporal parameter of the gait. RESULTS In MS, the DTC was higher for the following gait parameters: speed (p = .013), cadence (p = .004), stride time (p = .005) stance phase (p < .001), and swing phase duration (p = .032). CONCLUSION DTC is present in MS and HC, but the motor cost in MS is higher. The present work provides a useful and validated basis for future studies about cognitive motor interference in MS.
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Background: In clinical routine, upper limb motor disorders of people with Parkinson's disease are commonly assessed using scale‐ or timed tests, but such tools are not fully suitable for providing detailed information about their... more
Background: In clinical routine, upper limb motor disorders of people with Parkinson's disease are commonly assessed using scale‐ or timed tests, but such tools are not fully suitable for providing detailed information about their type and magnitude. To partly overcome these limitations, the present study aims to quantitatively investigate upper limb functional impairments through quantitative analysis of the “hand‐to‐mouth” task. Methods: Twenty‐five individuals with Parkinson's disease and 20 age‐matched healthy individuals underwent a kinematic analysis of the hand‐to‐mouth task from which spatio‐temporal and kinematic measures, including summary measures (Arm Variable Score and Arm Profile Score), were calculated and correlated with clinical scores (Hoehn & Yahr, H&Y and the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, UPDRS). Findings: The “hand‐to‐mouth” movement is significantly altered in individuals with Parkinson's disease, especially in terms of reduced velocity, reduced range of motion of elbow flexion‐extension and deviation from a physiologic pattern (Arm Profile Score 12.8° vs. 10.1° of unaffected, P=0.002). Significant moderate correlations were found between movement duration and UPDRS‐III (rho=0.478, P=0.001) and between the Arm Profile Score and H&Y (rho=0.481, P=0.024) and UPDRS‐III (rho=0.326, P=0.001). Interpretation: On the basis of such findings, we can state that the kinematic analysis of “hand‐to‐mouth” movement, and in particular the summary indexes, are suitable for easily representing upper limb movement alterations in people with Parkinson's disease, thus allowing the monitoring either of disease progression or effectiveness of pharmacologic and rehabilitative treatments. HIGHLIGHTSUpper limb functions during hand‐to‐mouth task in people with Parkinson's DiseaseDeviations of movements from physiological pattern by kinematic synthetic measuresInvestigated relationship between upper limb movement variables and clinical scores
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Dementia with Lewy body is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting both cognitive and motor domains. Motor impairment manifests predominantly as a symmetrical/mild asymmetrical parkinsonian syndrome that is only mildly responsive to... more
Dementia with Lewy body is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting both cognitive and motor domains. Motor impairment manifests predominantly as a symmetrical/mild asymmetrical parkinsonian syndrome that is only mildly responsive to Levodopa. To characterize motor dysfunction in dementia with Lewy body, we quantitatively assessed upper limb movements using a motion-capture system. Ten patients and ten healthy controls were tested while performing the hand-to-mouth movement of which speed, smoothness and accuracy features were measured. The results showed that individuals with dementia with Lewy body required a longer time to complete the task, particularly due to a prolonged duration of the adjusting phase (i.e., when approaching the target/mouth). The overall motor performance of dementia with Lewy body patients closely resembled what previously observed in patients affected by both Parkinson’s disease and ataxia while performing the same task. Moreover, the severity of parkinsonian symptoms as assessed by the UPDRS-III scale impacted on the velocity of movement alone whereas impairment of executive functions correlated with variables related to the phase of targeting the mouth. This study provides new information about upper limb motor dysfunction in dementia with Lewy body.
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Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms impacting life quality. The main aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of PD on objective (i.e., working... more
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms impacting life quality. The main aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of PD on objective (i.e., working memory and semantic memory) and subjective memory (i.e., self-reported seriousness of forgetting, mnemonic usage and actual memory efficiency) controlling for the effect of depressive symptomatology. The relationship of working memory performance to gait and mobility indices was also examined, as well as the factors predicting subjective memory were explored. Fifty-four community-dwelling adults (mean age = 72.3 years, SD = 8.8) were recruited in Sardinia, an Italian island located in the Mediterranean Sea. Specifically, 27 non-demented adults with mild, early-stage PD were matched for years of education, age, and gender with a sample of healthy individuals. Participants completed a test battery assessing objective memory, subjective memory, and depressi...
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
BACKGROUND Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects men and women differently from several points of view: prevalence, severity of cognitive impairments and disability accumulation. However, it is unknown whether ambulatory dysfunctions are... more
BACKGROUND Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects men and women differently from several points of view: prevalence, severity of cognitive impairments and disability accumulation. However, it is unknown whether ambulatory dysfunctions are sex-related. This study investigated the existence of differences in spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters of gait in men and women with MS using 3D gait analysis. METHODS Gait patterns of 60 people with MS (pwMS, 32F, 28M) with low to moderate disability (average Expanded Disability Status Scale score 3, range 1-5.5) who underwent a gait analysis in the period 2014-2017 were retrospectively analyzed to calculate spatio-temporal parameters of gait and kinematics in the sagittal plane at hip, knee and ankle joints. RESULTS Significant differences between the groups were found in kinematics of gait. In particular, men exhibited reduced ankle plantar-flexion, increased knee flexion and hip flexion. In contrast, no differences were found in spatio-temporal parameters normalized by considering individuals' anthropometry. CONCLUSIONS The findings of the present study highlight the need to investigate gait dysfunctions in pwMS taking sex into consideration. Such an approach might be useful not only in better understanding the pathophysiology of gait disturbances originated by MS, but also in supporting a better orientation of rehabilitative treatments.
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PurposeThis study aimed to characterize age-related changes in Timed Up and Go (TUG) sub-phases (i.e., sit to stand, walking and turning) quantitatively assessed using an inertial sensor in healthy older adults and to verify the degree of... more
PurposeThis study aimed to characterize age-related changes in Timed Up and Go (TUG) sub-phases (i.e., sit to stand, walking and turning) quantitatively assessed using an inertial sensor in healthy older adults and to verify the degree of correlation between TUG parameters and muscular strength (assessed by handgrip strength, HGS) in the different age ranges.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study performed on 125 healthy older adults aged over 65 years stratified in four groups (< 70 years, 71–75, 76–80, > 80) who underwent an instrumental TUG carried out using a wearable inertial sensor. In addition, participants were asked to carry out the HGS test to establish possible relationships between muscular strength and TUG features.ResultsThe results show a general decline in all phases of TUG performance (albeit with some gender-related differences) which becomes significant after 75 years of age. Also, HGS was found to be systematically higher in men at any age group. Significant negative correlations between HGS and TUG phases times were found for both genders (men r = − 0.28 to − 0.50, women r = − 0.34 to − 0.60). However, when age groups were analyzed separately, such correlations are confirmed only in case of women aged < 70 years, while they vanish for most parameters in all other age groups.ConclusionThe findings obtained in the present study suggest that muscular strength might have a different relationship with functional mobility according to age and gender, and this should be considered when physical activity program or rehabilitation plans are planned.
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This study aimed to investigate possible differences in spatio-temporal gait parameters of people with Parkinson’s Disease (pwPD) when they are tested either in laboratory using 3D Gait Analysis or in a clinical setting using wearable... more
This study aimed to investigate possible differences in spatio-temporal gait parameters of people with Parkinson’s Disease (pwPD) when they are tested either in laboratory using 3D Gait Analysis or in a clinical setting using wearable accelerometers. The main spatio-temporal gait parameters (speed, cadence, stride length, stance, swing and double support duration) of 31 pwPD were acquired: i) using a wearable accelerometer in a clinical setting while wearing shoes (ISS); ii) same as condition 1, but barefoot (ISB); iii) using an optoelectronic system (OES) undressed and barefoot. While no significant differences were found for cadence, stance, swing and double support duration, the experimental setting affected speed and stride length that decreased (by 17% and 12% respectively, P<0.005) when passing from the clinical (ISS) to the laboratory (OES) setting. These results suggest that gait assessment should be always performed in the same conditions to avoid errors, which may lead ...
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The use of a mobile phone for texting purposes results in distracted walking which may lead to injuries. In particular, texting while walking has been shown to induce significant alterations in gait patterns. This study aimed to assess... more
The use of a mobile phone for texting purposes results in distracted walking which may lead to injuries. In particular, texting while walking has been shown to induce significant alterations in gait patterns. This study aimed to assess whether changes in the main spatio-temporal parameters of gait when simultaneously engaged in texting on a smartphone and walking are different in older adults relative to young and middle- aged individuals. A total of 57 participants divided in three groups (19 older adults aged over 65, 19 young aged 20-40 and 19 middle-aged aged 41-64) were tested in two conditions: walking, and walking while texting on a smartphone. Spatio-temporal parameters of gait were assessed using a wearable accelerometer located on the lower back. The results show that texting induced similar reduction of gait speed, stride length and cadence in all groups. Slight (although significant) alterations of stance, swing and double support phases duration were found only for midd...
INTRODUCTION Cognitive motor interference (CMI) is performance impairment due to simultaneuous task execution and is measured using the dual task cost (DTC). No pathological feature of MS has to date been associated with CMI. AIM To... more
INTRODUCTION Cognitive motor interference (CMI) is performance impairment due to simultaneuous task execution and is measured using the dual task cost (DTC). No pathological feature of MS has to date been associated with CMI. AIM To assess the relationship between brain volumes and CMI, as measured using the DTC, in a cross-sectional study. METHODS A group of persons with MS (pwMS) and an age- and sex-matched healthy control (HC) group underwent 3D gait analysis during using the dual task paradigm. Brain volumes were measured on T1-weighted gradient echo scans using SIENAX software. The relationships between brain volumes and the DTCs of spatial temporal parameters were evaluated using Pearson correlation. A multiple regression model was used to evaluate the ability to predict the DTC of cadence based on brain volume and grey matter (GM) volume. RESULTS Forty-four patients and 16 HCs underwent MRI and gait analysis. The mean expanded disability status scale (EDSS) was 2.4 ± 1.5. Significant relationships between brain volumes and DTC were found only in the pwMS group, with higher rho scores for the DTC of mean velocity, DTC of cadence, and DTC of stride time. A statistically significant regression equation with an R2 value of 0.684 was found using GM and Z-score on the Stroop test as predictors of the DTC of cadence (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Brain atrophy, especially than in the GM, is a major determinant of DTC, although other pathological markers also contribute to CMI in patients with MS.
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Few studies have evaluated the impact of physical activity (PA) on cognition and fatigue, and none have considered the effects of PA on the relationship between cognition and fatigue. We evaluated the effect of PA in people with multiple... more
Few studies have evaluated the impact of physical activity (PA) on cognition and fatigue, and none have considered the effects of PA on the relationship between cognition and fatigue. We evaluated the effect of PA in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) in a 6-month-long single-blind randomized controlled trial. We focused on the impact of exercise on cognition, fatigue, and the relationship between cognition and fatigue. We recruited pwMS, who were then randomly assigned 1:1 to either a PA protocol group or a control group (CG). All patients underwent assessments using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis including symbol digit modality test (SDMT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), gait analysis, 6-Minute Walk Test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) at the beginning of the study (T0), at the end of the study (EOS) 24 weeks after T0, and at 24 weeks following the EOS (FU). A Wilcoxon test revealed a significant effect o...
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In persons with Parkinson's disease (PD), gait dysfunctions are often associated with abnormal neuromuscular function. Physical therapy combined with auditory stimulation has been recently shown to improve motor function and gait... more
In persons with Parkinson's disease (PD), gait dysfunctions are often associated with abnormal neuromuscular function. Physical therapy combined with auditory stimulation has been recently shown to improve motor function and gait kinematic patterns; however, the underlying neuromuscular control patterns leading to this improvement have never been identified. (1) Assess the relationships between motor dysfunction and lower limb muscle activity during gait in persons with PD; (2) Quantify the effects of physical therapy with rhythmic auditory stimulation (PT-RAS) on lower limb muscle activity during gait in persons with PD. Participants (15 with PD) completed a 17-week intervention of PT-RAS. Gait was analyzed at baseline, after 5 weeks of supervised treatment (T5), and at a 12-week follow-up (T17). For each session, motor dysfunction was scored using the United Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, and muscle activation amplitude, modulation, variability, and asymmetry were measured fo...
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Aging leads to poorer neuromuscular control that may impact mobility. However, the specific decades when these changes occur, and whether these time-based changes are sex-specific, are unclear. Adults aged 20-82 years (N = 93, 51 females)... more
Aging leads to poorer neuromuscular control that may impact mobility. However, the specific decades when these changes occur, and whether these time-based changes are sex-specific, are unclear. Adults aged 20-82 years (N = 93, 51 females) walked six gait trials at their preferred speed over a 10-m platform. Electromyography (EMG) of the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) were measured using wireless surface sensors. Root mean square (RMS) and within-cycle coefficient of variation (CV) values were calculated for several phases of gait. Mixed effect models were conducted to test for Age, Sex, Muscle, and interaction effects, covarying for gait speed and stride length. A significant Age × Sex × Muscle interaction on RMS at the mid-swing phase was found (p = .036), showing 4.2% higher RF RMS for males (β = 0.42, p = .008) and 3.3% higher GL RMS for females (β = 0.33, p = .038) with each of the three decades investigated. Significant Age × Muscl...
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Although upper limb (UL) impairments are widespread in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), there is limited quantitative evidence concerning their specific features. The aim of this study is to validate a synthetic measure based on... more
Although upper limb (UL) impairments are widespread in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), there is limited quantitative evidence concerning their specific features. The aim of this study is to validate a synthetic measure based on kinematic data to define the degree of deviation from a physiologic pattern during the "hand to mouth" (HTM) task. Twenty pwMS (mean age 51.2 SD 11.1) years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in the range 2-6.5, underwent a kinematic analysis of the HTM task using a motion capture system. Spatio-temporal parameters and synthetic indexes (Arm Variable Score, AVS and Arm Profile Score, APS) were calculated and compared with those of age-matched healthy individuals. Kinematic data were correlated with the EDSS score and clinical tests such as the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) and hand-grip strength (HGS). PwMS exhibit reduced velocity, increased movement duration, sway of adjusting and frequency of direction changes as well as higher APS...
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Considering the relevant amount of time spent by children at school, it is essential to ensure that suitable levels of physical activity (PA) are guaranteed. This study aimed to assess possible changes induced in the amount and type of PA... more
Considering the relevant amount of time spent by children at school, it is essential to ensure that suitable levels of physical activity (PA) are guaranteed. This study aimed to assess possible changes induced in the amount and type of PA performed following the 2 schedules in Italian primary schools, namely regular and full time (30-40 h/week respectively). A sample of 169 children wore a triaxial accelerometer 24h/day for 7 consecutive days. Raw data were processed to calculate the number of steps, amount and intensity of the PA performed in morning, afternoon and evening time slots. During weekday afternoon times (1:30 to 4:30 PM), children attending the full-time schedule spent significantly less time in sedentary behavior with respect to those who attend the regular time (54.7% vs. 60.0%, P < .001) and more time in moderate-to-vigorous activity (18.0% vs. 15.0%, P = .004). No differences between morning and evening times were found. The structure of the full time schedule, w...
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The purpose of this study is to quantitatively assess the effect of 6 months of supervised adapted physical activity (APA i.e. physical activity designed for people with special needs) on spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters of gait... more
The purpose of this study is to quantitatively assess the effect of 6 months of supervised adapted physical activity (APA i.e. physical activity designed for people with special needs) on spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters of gait in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). Twenty-two pwMS with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores ranging from 1.5 to 5.5 were randomly assigned either to the intervention group (APA, n = 11) or the control group (CG, n = 11). The former underwent 6 months of APA consisting of 3 weekly 60-min sessions of aerobic and strength training, while CG participants were engaged in no structured PA program. Gait patterns were analyzed before and after the training using three-dimensional gait analysis by calculating spatio-temporal parameters and concise indexes of gait kinematics (Gait Profile Score - GPS and Gait Variable Score - GVS) as well as dynamic Range of Motion (ROM) of hip, knee, and ankle joints. The training originated significant improvements in stride length, gait speed and cadence in the APA group, while GPS and GVS scores remained practically unchanged. A trend of improvement was also observed as regard the dynamic ROM of hip, knee, and ankle joints. No significant changes were observed in the CG for any of the parameters considered. The quantitative analysis of gait supplied mixed evidence about the actual impact of 6 months of APA on pwMS. Although some improvements have been observed, the substantial constancy of kinematic patterns of gait suggests that the full transferability of the administered training on the ambulation function may require more specific exercises. Implications for rehabilitation Adapted Physical Activity (APA) is effective in improving spatio-temporal parameters of gait, but not kinematics, in people with multiple sclerosis. Dynamic range of motion during gait is increased after APA. The full transferability of APA on the ambulation function may require specific exercises rather than generic lower limbs strength/flexibility training.
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This study aims to verify the feasibility of use of wearable accelerometers in an ambulatory environment to assess spatiotemporal parameters of gait in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), as well as the correlation of objective data... more
This study aims to verify the feasibility of use of wearable accelerometers in an ambulatory environment to assess spatiotemporal parameters of gait in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), as well as the correlation of objective data with patient-reported outcomes. One hundred and five pwMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS in the range 0-6.5) classified in three sub-groups (EDSS 0-1.5, EDSS 2-4, EDSS 4.5-6.5) and 47 healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. All the subjects were evaluated with the timed 25-foot walking test (T25FW) while wearing a commercially available accelerometer. PwMS also rated the impact of the disease on their walking abilities using the 12-item MS walking scale (MSWS-12). All parameters objectively measured, except stride length, were significantly modified in pwMS with higher EDSS, with respect to HC and lower disability participants. Moderate to high correlations (r =0.57-0.79) were observed between gait parameters and MSWS-12 for pwMS of higher EDSS. The correlation was found moderate for the intermediate EDSS category (r =0.42-0.62). Wearable accelerometers are a useful tool for assessing gait performance for pwMS in a clinical setting, especially in cases of mild to moderate disability. Compared with other quantitative techniques, these devices allow patient testing under realistic conditions (i.e., fully dressed, with their usual shoes) using a simple procedure with immediate availability of data.
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Required Coefficient of Friction (RCOF) is one of the most critical gait parameters associated to the occurrence of slipping in individuals affected by neurological disorders characterized by balance impairments. This study aims to... more
Required Coefficient of Friction (RCOF) is one of the most critical gait parameters associated to the occurrence of slipping in individuals affected by neurological disorders characterized by balance impairments. This study aims to calculate RCOF in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) on the basis of three-dimensional Gait Analysis (GA) data. This study enrolls 22 people with MS (pwMS) who were characterized by an Expanded Disability Status Score in the range 1.5-6 and 10 healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent to three-dimensional GA from which we extracted kinematic and kinetic data (i.e. the Ground Reaction Forces, GRF, and joint moments and powers in the sagittal plane). RCOF was calculated as the ratio of the shear to normal GRF components during the stance phase of gait cycle, and normalized by the walking velocity. Thus, the following variables were extracted: first peak (named P1COF), valley (named V1COF), and second peak (named P2COF) in RCOF curve; also computating the maximum ankle dorsi-plantarflexion moment (MOMmax) and the maximum ankle joint power (PWRmax). Our data revealed that P2COF results are significantly lower in pwMS when compared to HC (p=0.043; Z=-2.025). In pwMS, the study found a moderate, positive correlation between V1COF and MOMmax (r=0.558; p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001) and a moderate, positive correlation between EDSS score and MOMmax (rho=0.622; p=0.001). While, in HC group, the study detected a moderate positive correlation between P1COF and MOM max (r=0.636; p=0.008). Friction during mid stance and push off phases is critically important to determine whether the frictional capabilities of foot/floor interface are sufficient to prevent slips in pwMS. The impaired ankle moment in MS group causes increased P2COF in comparison to HC, increasing the risk of slipping in the critical phase of transmission of the developed forces to kinematic chain. Also, the correlation analysis among RCOF values and kinetic variables describe the interplay between V1COF and MOMmax: the higher V1COF is, the higher is MOMmax; and the different correlation the study found between COF and kinetic parameters in MS and HC group highlightes the different gait patterns of the two classes of subjects.
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The aim of this study is to assess the effect of actual match effort on dynamic balance abilities in young elite soccer players. Seventeen Under 15 male players who compete at national level participated in the study. Their dynamic... more
The aim of this study is to assess the effect of actual match effort on dynamic balance abilities in young elite soccer players. Seventeen Under 15 male players who compete at national level participated in the study. Their dynamic balance was assessed by having them jump starting with both feet on the ground in a standing position and land on one foot only. Their vertical time to stabilization (vTTS) and postural sway were calculated before and after 35 min of an unofficial match. Postural sway was assessed on the basis of center-of-pressure (COP) trajectories. Parameters considered were sway area, COP displacements in the antero-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions and COP path length. After the match, a significant increase in vTTS (p = 0.007) COP path length (p = 0.001) and COP displacements in ML (p < 0.001) was observed. Such effects involve both non-dominant (vTTS, path length) and dominant limb (COP displacements). The physical effort associated with the match...
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Assessment of gait abnormalities in individuals affected by Parkinson's Disease (PD) is essential in evaluating the disease progression and the effectiveness of pharmacologic and rehabilitative treatments. However, in the clinical... more
Assessment of gait abnormalities in individuals affected by Parkinson's Disease (PD) is essential in evaluating the disease progression and the effectiveness of pharmacologic and rehabilitative treatments. However, in the clinical routine qualitative and subjective methods are often employed to this aim, despite the availability of sophisticated equipment able to supply accurate and detailed quantitative information. In this study, we propose the use of motion capture systems based on optoelectronic stereophotogrammetry to investigate the main spatio-temporal and kinematics parameters of gait in a cohort of 28 individuals with PD of age > 60. In particular, we aimed to describe the gait kinematics on the basis of concise measures (Gait Profile Score, GPS and Gait Variable Score, GVS) obtained from a quantitative three-dimensional analysis of gait. The results show that peculiar features are identifiable, especially in terms of functional limitations of hip and knee joints and confirm the validity of the GPS approach to describe the deviations from a physiologic gait pattern. Such method might be very useful in helping clinicians to detect even subtle changes in gait patterns (that would be impossible to observe with other techniques) consequent to either pharmacologic or rehabilitative treatments.
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Previous studies have demonstrated that physical therapy accompanied by Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) can improve the motor skills of patients with Parkinson’s disease and, in particular, their gait disturbances. In the present work... more
Previous studies have demonstrated that physical therapy accompanied by Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) can improve the motor skills of patients with Parkinson’s disease and, in particular, their gait disturbances. In the present work we describe the neurological bases and perceptual-motor deficits generally associated with Parkinson’s disease, with a specific focus on gait disturbances. Within this framework, we review the role of auditory cueing in the modulation of patients’ gait, addressing this issue from the cognitive, neurological and biomechanical perspectives. In particular, we focus on the new frontiers of both assessment and intervention. With regards to the assessment, we describe the advantages of the three-dimensional quantitative multifactorial gait analysis. As concerns the intervention, we illustrate the potential impact of the administration of ecological footstep sounds as rhythmic cues.