No abstract

Anticipatory eye movement promotes cranio-caudal sequencing during walking turns. Clinical groups, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), do not produce anticipatory eye movements, leading to increased risk of falls. Visual cues may promote anticipatory eye movement by guiding the eyes into the turn. This study examined if visual cues could train anticipatory eye movement. Ten neurotypical young adults and 6 adults with PD completed three blocks of walking trials. Trials were blocked by visual condition: non-cued baseline turns (5 trials), visually cued turns (10 trials), and non-cued post turns (5 trials). A Delsys Trigno (Delsys, Boston, MA) recorded horizontal saccades at 1024 Hz via electrooculography (EOG). Two Optotrak cameras (Northern Digital Inc., ON, Canada) captured body segment kinematics at 120 Hz. Initiation of segment rotation with respect to ipsilateral foot contact (IFC1) prior to the turn was calculated. Neurotypical young adults (NYA) produced typical cranio-caudal rotation sequences during walking turns. Eyes led (407 ms prior to IFC1), followed by the head (50 ms prior to IFC1), then trunk and pelvis. In contrast, PD produced no anticipatory eye or segment movement at baseline. During pre-trials the eyes moved 96 ms after IFC1 and segment movement was initiated by the pelvis followed by trunk and head segments. After visual cue training however, PD produced anticipatory eye movements 161 ms prior to IFC1, followed by the head 88 ms following IFC1 but ahead of trunk and pelvis onset. These results suggest visual cues assist in producing cranio-caudal control during walking turns in PD.

No abstract

This case characterizes the clinical motor, perceived fatigue, gait and balance, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary responses after cycling 7850 km over 85 days in a physically active 57‐year‐old male with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). The participant cycled 73/85 days (86%); averaging 107.5 ± 48.9 km/day over 255.4 ± 108.8 min. Average cycling heart rate was 117 ± 11 bpm. The Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III motor score decreased from 46 to 26 (−44%), while the mean Parkinson Fatigue Scale (PFS‐16) score decreased from 3.4 to 2.3 (−32%). Peak power output on a maximal aerobic exercise test increased from 326 to 357 W (+10%), while peak isotonic power of single‐leg knee extension increased from 312 to 350 W (+12%). Maximal oxygen uptake following the trip was 53.1 mL/min/kg or 151% of predicted. Resting heart rate increased from 48 to 71 bpm (+48%). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses to a 2‐min submaximal static handgrip exercise were near absent at baseline (∆2/∆2 mm Hg) but appeared normal post‐trip (∆17/∆9 mm Hg). Gait and static balance measures were unchanged. This case report demonstrates the capacity for physiological and clinical adaptations to a high‐volume, high‐intensity cycling regiment in a physically active middle‐aged male with PD.