A Comparison of Physical Activity and Dual Task Gait Among Persons with Parkinson's Disease and Healthy Older Adults. (2nd July 2016) - Swank, Chad
ABSTRACT: Aims : To identify if dual task gait differed between persons with PD (high versus low physical activity levels) and healthy peers. Methods : Persons with PD ( n = 19) and matched healthy controls (HC) ( n = 19) completed Timed Up and Go single (TUGalone ) and dual task conditions (TUGmotor /TUGcognitive ), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and step activity monitoring. Participants with PD were classified low active (LAPD; n = 11) or high active (HAPD; n = 8) using HC mean steps/day cut-point (M = 4, 658). Results : PD groups were equivalent for mental status, disease severity, and PD duration. LAPD steps/day (M = 2, 482.00 ± 1, 466.33) differed from HAPD (M = 5, 675.13 ± 1, 198.93) and HC (M = 4, 657.74 ± 1, 604.99) ( p = 0.001). LAPD completed the TUG slower than HAPD and HC (MANOVA, p < 0.02; post-hoc analysis, p < 0.04). BDI-II scores were greater in LAPD than HC ( p = 0.013). Conclusions : Physical activity impacted mobility and depression. HAPD were similar to HC in walking activities and affect but LAPD walked slower with higher levels of depression.