Elżbieta Mirek1, Magdalena Filip2, Wiesław Chwała3, Jadwiga Szymura4, Szymon Pasiut5, Krzysztof Banaszkiewicz6, Monika Rudzińska Bar7, Andrzej Szczudlik8. 1. University School of Physical Education, Faculty of Motor Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Laboratory of Pathology of the Musculoskeletal System, Section of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: mirek.ela@wp.pl. 2. University School of Physical Education, Faculty of Motor Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Laboratory of Pathology of the Musculoskeletal System, Section of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: magdalena.filip@hotmail.com. 3. University School of Physical Education, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Department of Anthropomotorics, Section of Biomechanics, Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: wachwala@cyf-kr.edu.pl. 4. University School of Physical Education, Faculty of Motor Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Laboratory of Pathology of the Musculoskeletal System, Section of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: jagodaszymura@poczta.fm. 5. University School of Physical Education, Faculty of Motor Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical Rehabilitation and Laboratory of Pathology of the Musculoskeletal System, Section of Rehabilitation in Neurology and Psychiatry, Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: szymon.pasiut@gmail.com. 6. Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, John Paul's II Hospital, Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: k.banaszkiewicz@szpitaljp2.krakow.pl. 7. Department of Neurology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: mrudzinska@sum.edu.pl. 8. Centrum Neurologii Klinicznej, Cracow, Poland. Electronic address: andrzej@szczudlik.pl.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: There is no existing standard, evidence-based, scientific model for motor ability improvement in Huntington's Disease (HD) patients aimed at maintaining independent gait for as long as possible, or performing activities of daily living, the effectiveness of which would be supported by the results of studies using objective research tools. Under these circumstances, the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of motor ability rehabilitation on the spatial-temporal parameters of gait in HD patients. DESIGN: It was an experimental trial. The studied group consisted of 30 patients (17 women and 13 men) with HD. In hospital conditions, the patients participated in the 3-week motor ability l rehabilitation programme tailored to individual needs. The study group was tested using the Vicon 250 three-dimensional gait analysis system before and after the physical exercise programme. RESULTS: Walking speed after therapy increased for the left lower limb from 1.06 (SD 0.24) [m/s] to 1.21 (SD 0.23) [m/s], and for the right lower limb from 1.07 (SD 0.25) [m/s] to 1.20 (SD 0.25) [m/s]. The cycle length increased after the applied therapy for the left lower limb from 1.17 (SD 0.20) [m] to 1.23 (SD 0.19) [m]. CONCLUSION: The three-week motor ability rehabilitation programme positively influences spatial-temporal gait parameters in HD patients.
OBJECTIVE: There is no existing standard, evidence-based, scientific model for motor ability improvement in Huntington's Disease (HD) patients aimed at maintaining independent gait for as long as possible, or performing activities of daily living, the effectiveness of which would be supported by the results of studies using objective research tools. Under these circumstances, the aim of this study was to analyze the influence of motor ability rehabilitation on the spatial-temporal parameters of gait in HDpatients. DESIGN: It was an experimental trial. The studied group consisted of 30 patients (17 women and 13 men) with HD. In hospital conditions, the patients participated in the 3-week motor ability l rehabilitation programme tailored to individual needs. The study group was tested using the Vicon 250 three-dimensional gait analysis system before and after the physical exercise programme. RESULTS: Walking speed after therapy increased for the left lower limb from 1.06 (SD 0.24) [m/s] to 1.21 (SD 0.23) [m/s], and for the right lower limb from 1.07 (SD 0.25) [m/s] to 1.20 (SD 0.25) [m/s]. The cycle length increased after the applied therapy for the left lower limb from 1.17 (SD 0.20) [m] to 1.23 (SD 0.19) [m]. CONCLUSION: The three-week motor ability rehabilitation programme positively influences spatial-temporal gait parameters in HDpatients.