A walking support/evaluation machine for patients with parkinsonism

J Med Invest. 2004 Feb;51(1-2):117-24. doi: 10.2152/jmi.51.117.

Abstract

Various walk supporting systems have been devised and developed. However, they have not been designed for supporting or evaluating the gait of parkinsonian patients, and not much consideration has been given to gait disturbances of parkinsonian patients. In this study: (a) We prepared a tentative model of walk supporting and monitoring system in consideration of typical symptoms of parkinsonism. (b) We conducted gait rehabilitation in a parkinsonian patient using the walk supporting and monitoring system and confirmed (i) the occurrence of frozen gait during walking, (ii) brachybasia, (iii) the absence of anterior tilting of the posture, pulsion symptom, and festination, and (iv) occurrence of hesitation to start walking. Therefore, typical symptoms of parkinsonism can be detected by the use of this system. (c) The medical staff can evaluate the state of recovery of patients on the basis of the data obtained from this system and use them for purposes such as guidance of rehabilitation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Biomedical Engineering / instrumentation
  • Equipment Design
  • Gait / physiology
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / diagnosis
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / physiopathology
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / rehabilitation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / diagnosis
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Walkers*