Walk and Run Test in Patients with Degenerative Compression of the Cervical Spinal Cord

Abstract

Impaired gait is one of the cardinal symptoms of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and frequently its initial presentation. Quantitative gait analysis is therefore a promising objective tool in the disclosure of early cervical cord impairment in patients with degenerative cervical compression. The aim of this cross-sectional observational cohort study was to verify whether an objective and easily-used walk and run test is capable of detecting early gait impairment in a practical proportion of non-myelopathic degenerative cervical cord compression (NMDCC) patients and of revealing any correlation with severity of disability in DCM. The study group consisted of 45 DCM patients (median age 58 years), 126 NMDCC subjects (59 years), and 100 healthy controls (HC) (55.5 years), all of whom performed a standardized 10-m walk and run test. Walking/running time/velocity, number of steps and cadence of walking/running were recorded; analysis disclosed abnormalities in 66.7% of NMDCC subjects. The DCM group exhibited significantly more pronounced abnormalities in all walk/run parameters when compared with the NMDCC group. These were apparent in 84.4% of the DCM group and correlated closely with disability as quantified by the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale. A standardized 10-m walk/run test has the capacity to disclose locomotion abnormalities in NMDCC subjects who lack other clear myelopathic signs and may provide a means of classifying DCM patients according to their degree of disability.

Quantitative MR Markers in Non-Myelopathic Spinal Cord Compression: A Narrative Review

“…MR finding of cervical SC compression but an absence of any neurological symptoms and signs; neck pain was not considered a neurological symptom (mJOA = 18) Kadanka Jr. et al 2017 [29], Labounek et al 2020 [30] Nonmyelopathic degenerative cervical cord compression (NMDCCC) MR signs of SC compression but an absence of any myelopathic signs or possible presence of axial pain and/or symptoms or signs of upper extremity monoradiculopathy or completely asymptomatic individuals (mJOA not reported) Kadanka Jr. et al 2021 [31] Non-myelopathic degenerative cervical cord compression (NMDCC) mJOA -modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale, SC -spinal cord…”

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and Spinal Cord Injury: Introduction to the Special Issue

“…Wolf et al [ 6 ] also found gender related differences in SC motion patterns amongst men with stenosis at the C5/C6 or C6/C7 levels and no relationship between cervical joint motion to severity of the stenosis indicating the need for further assessment of gender differences in pathological features of DCM. On assessment of outcome measures for DCM, Kadanka et al [ 7 ], showed that the standardized 10 m walk/run test can assess motor and balance abnormalities in both classic DCM patients and non-myelopathic degenerative cervical cord compression (NMDCC) patients, which has a 40% prevalence in 60+ age groups in European/American subpopulation. This was the first study assessing such changes in NMDCC patients and the 10 m walk/run test closely correlated with mJOA, which could allow for early detection of DCM before permanent neurodegeneration occurs.…”