Impaired gait kinematics in type 1 Gaucher’s Disease

Abstract

Type 1 Gaucher's disease (GD1) is traditionally regarded as "non-neurological". Spatiotemporal and kinematic analysis of gait was carried on thirteen GD1 patients and thirteen healthy controls. We identified a previously unknown subclinical reduction of amplitude of movements in GD1. Articular excursion of ankle, knee and hip was reduced during the swing phase of gait (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the excursion of the knee appeared also significantly more asymmetric in GD1 patients (p = 0.02). Correction for age, BMI and basal walking speed did not modify the significance. Accordingly to the recent observations that GD1 predisposes to Parkinson's disease, the impaired and asymmetric gait kinematics that we observed might be interpreted as a form of extrapyramidal involvement.