Interlimb coordination and asymmetry during turning in people with Parkinson's Disease: an exploratory analysis related to brain cortical activity

• Grant number: 20/01250-4
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Effective date (Start): October 08, 2020
• Effective date (End): January 05, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal researcher: Fabio Augusto Barbieri
• Grantee: Fabio Augusto Barbieri
• Host: João Manuel Ribeiro da Silva Tavares
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Research place: Universidade do Porto (UP), Portugal

Abstract

Walking in a complex environment, such as turning during walking, can impair interlimb coordination and affect gait asymmetry, especially in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) which shows deficits in neuronal structures. In addition, cortical activity can play an essential role in turning due to the deficits in the central area of the brain in PD, which can cause asymmetries during turning. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to analyze the interlimb coordination between the least affected and most affected limbs during turning in terms of leg joints and cortical activity in people with PD. The specific purposes of this study are to understand the asymmetry on interlimb coordination during turning in people with PD, and to analyze the relationship between asymmetry on interlimb coordination and cortical activity during turning in people with PD and neurologically healthy individuals. Fifteen people with PD and 15 older adult (controls) of similar age and sex will be recruited. They will be instructed to walk, at a self-selected velocity, and turn (180°) in a cone. The participant will perform three trials of turning for each side in a randomized order. Interlimb coordination will be analyzed by calculating relative phase angles between the left and right upper arm, lower arm, hip, knee and ankle, and the arm and leg on each body side. The calculation of voltage-amplitude and average spectral power-dependent variables and connectivity between brain area (prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, parietal lobe and occipital) according to frequency bands will be performed for cortical activity analysis. Knowledge concerning asymmetry on interlimb coordination can provide a basis for answering clinical questions related to how the motion control system changes for specific cases, as well as how to look for alterations in gait and what changes to look during movement analysis in people with PD. (AU)