Abstract Details

Title Effects of Rhythmic Vibratory Cueing on Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Topic Movement Disorders

Presentation(s) P04 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 168

Objective

Background BACKGROUND: Improvements in gait have been observed in patients with extrapyramidal movement disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD) when a conscious effort is made. We hypothesized that constant stimulation of the pyramidal system could produce similar improvements as seen with prior studies of somatosensory and visual afferent stimulation.

Design/Methods DESIGN/METHODS: Thirty patients with idiopathic PD(H&Y stage 2.5+/-1) walked with and without rhythmic vibratory cues provided by an astable multivibrator built into an ankle brace at a frequency matching the cadence. Gait was assessed using standard manual evaluation protocol and step length, stride length, time and cadence were measured.

Results RESULTS: Data were analyzed using "paired t test" to evaluate the difference obtained in gait variables for statistical significance (P value of 0.01). Rhythmic vibratory cueing significantly improved the gait variables in patients both on and off medication.

Conclusions CONCLUSIONS: The study provides an alternate dimension to the pathophysiologic basis of PD and other basal ganglia movement disorders and their treatment. The major emphasis has remained on correction of the basal ganglia, extrapyramidal system while the same might be achieved by the pyramidal system/cortical over -ride. Vibratory cueing apart from the proposed cortical gait regulation may also have an additional mechanism of action via spinal loop reflexes.Vibratory cueing may provide an alternative way to improve the gait of PD patients. Further studies in this direction with special emphasis on giving the device for use at home and assessing the improvement in the quality of life will provide a better understanding of its efficacy.

Authors/Disclosures
Shabbir Hussain I. Merchant, MD (BIDMC) PRESENTER	Dr. Merchant has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Medtronic . Dr. Merchant has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Stanford Health. The institution of Dr. Merchant has received research support from Biogen. The institution of Dr. Merchant has received research support from Cerevance.
Anthony Reder, MD (University of Chicago)	Dr. Reder has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file

��ɫ��

��ɫ��