Why is it harder to cross obstacles when you have Parkinson’s disease?

News

Author: Saskia MairPublished: 15 April 2021

Parkinson's LifePrep: Parkinson's LifeCook: Parkinson's LifeServes:

Man stepping over yellow mini banana hurdles on a field

A team of researchers at São Paulo State University, Brazil, have offered insights on why people with Parkinson’s disease can find it more difficult to cross obstacles than those without the condition.

As part of the study, 13 people with Parkinson’s disease and 11 controls stepped over an obstacle 15 times, and scientists measured the distance between the foot and the obstacles during the step. They found that step-length synergy – the ability of the musculoskeletal system to adapt movement when encountering an obstacle – was 53% lower in people with the condition.

“There are patients in our exercise group who fall three or four times a week,” said Fabio Augusto Barbieri, one of the study authors. “It’s important to understand how these patients’ gait and locomotion adapt while crossing obstacles so that we can improve step-length synergy.”


Read more:

Take part in Parkinson Tulip Project

Looking after dental health with Parkinson’s disease

Go Back

Share this story

Comments


Related articles


Health & Fitness

5 Parkinson’s exercise classes for keeping fit in lockdown

Free online exercise classes to help you stay active

READ MORE
Neha Shahid Chaudhry

Advances

3 incredible walking inventions that Parkinson’s patients need to know about

Top tech: from laser-guided shoes to vibrating walking sticks

READ MORE

Health & Fitness

Parkinson’s Europe ExerciseCast: How to stay active during the coronavirus crisis

Josefa Domingos on how to stay active in lockdown

READ MORE