Quantitative gait analysis in essential XXXX reveals impairments that are maintained into advanced age.

@entity1 @entity73 @entity400 @entity76
BACKGROUND: Essential @entity400 (ET) @entity1 seem to have impaired gait and balance, yet surprisingly few studies have utilized quantitative analysis to study these impairments. With one exception, these prior studies examined gait on a treadmill, which does not approximate functional environmental conditions (level ground). Moreover, these studies tested middle-aged subjects so it remains unclear whether ET @entity1 maintain a pattern of deficits that is in excess of that seen in controls, even into advanced ages. METHODS: 104 ET subjects (86.0  4.6, range=75-97 years) and 40 similarly aged controls (84.1  4.2, range=74-94 years) underwent gait testing using the GAITRite mat under standard walk and tandem walk conditions on level ground. RESULTS: In standard walk, ET @entity1 demonstrated deficits related to gait speed (lower velocity and cadence, p=0.0001), dynamic imbalance (increased double support percent, p=0.01), and gait asymmetry (increased step time difference, p=0.003). During tandem walk, ET @entity1 had lower velocity (p=0.002) and cadence (p=0.003), and more mis-steps (p<0.008) compared with controls. For all variables, ET @entity1 performed more poorly than controls even into advanced ages, as demonstrated in linear regression models. CONCLUSIONS: ET @entity1 demonstrated decrement in gait speed, dynamic balance and gait symmetry during standard walk and clear balance impairment during tandem walk. This constellation of impairments is consistent with a @entity76 . ET @entity1 maintained this pattern of deficits, in excess of that seen in controls, into advanced age, reinforcing the importance of @entity73 in this disorder.
