Functional Aspects of Gait in Essential @entity400 : A Comparison with Age-Matched @entity191 Cases, XXXX Cases, and Controls.

@entity1 @entity16 @entity191 @entity400 @entity74 @entity9663 @entity3519 @entity717
BACKGROUND: An understanding of the functional aspects of gait and balance has wide ramifications. Individuals with @entity74 often restrict physical activity, travel, and social commitments to avoid falling, and loss of balance confidence, itself, is a source of disability. We studied the functional aspects of gait in @entity1 with essential @entity400 (ET), placing their findings within the context of two other @entity16 ( @entity191 ) and comparing them with age-matched controls. METHODS: We administered the six-item Activities of Balance Confidence (ABC-6) Scale and collected data on number of falls and near-falls, and use of walking aids in 422 @entity1 (126 ET, 77 @entity191 , 46 @entity3519 , 173 controls). RESULTS: Balance confidence was lowest in @entity191 , intermediate in ET, and relatively preserved in @entity3519 compared with controls. This ordering reoccurred for each of the six ABC-6 items. The number of near-falls and falls followed a similar ordering. Use of canes, walkers, and wheelchairs was elevated in ET and even greater in @entity191 . Several measures of balance confidence (ABC-6 items 1, 4, 5, and 6) were lower in torticollis cases than in those with @entity9663 , although the two groups did not differ with respect to falls or use of walking aids. DISCUSSION: Lower balance confidence, increased falls, and greater need for walking aids are variably features of a range of @entity717 @entity1 compared to age-matched controls. While most marked among @entity191 @entity1 , these issues affected ET @entity1 as well and, to a small degree, some @entity1 with @entity3519 .
