Gait velocity and stability are correlated to muscle and bone mass loss in people with Parkinson’s disease: a preliminary study

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) exacerbates muscle and bone mass loss, which is associated with several negative outcomes such as falls and disability. Thus, muscle and bone mass loss may be one mechanism for the mediator role between gait impairments and PD. Aim: To verify the relationship between the spatial-temporal gait parameters and the body composition of the lower limbs in people with PD. Method: Thirteen people with PD were evaluated on two different days: i) clinical and gait evaluation; ii) body composition evaluation. The step length, width, duration and speed, the percentage in double support, and gait velocity during walking at self-selected velocity. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique was used to measure fat mass, lean mass, bone mass, and the total mass, for whole body, and separately for each limb. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were applied between the spatial-temporal gait parameters and the variables of body composition of lower limbs. Results: Reduced lean and bone mass of both legs were related to faster gait velocity (r=0.6, p<0.03 and r=0.7, p<0.01, respectively) and step speed (r=0.5, p<0.05 and r=0.65, p<0.02, respectively). Also, narrower step width was related to the higher bone mass of both legs (r=0.6, p<0.03). However, muscle and bone mass did not correlate with step length and duration, and percentage of double support. Interpretation:Our findings suggest that the muscle and bone mass of the lower limbs are important body characteristics for gait impairments in people with PD and should be monitored over the disease.