Understanding and Assessing Gait in Parkinson's Disease

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Video Runtime: 61 Minutes; Learning Assessment Runtime: 45 Minutes

This course will take clinicians through the common gait presentations of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, their causes and how to provide a comprehensive assessment and treatment options. Individuals with Parkinson’s disease have gait deficits from the time of their diagnosis, and these deficits grow worse and become more challenging to manage with the advancing of the disease. This course will provide an overview of common gait presentations and their underlying causes. Clinicians will learn how to choose the best outcome tool for their patients’ needs and then learn about practical, evidence-based options for treatment interventions. Upon completion of this course, clinicians will feel more empowered to help their patients with gait training, no matter the level of impairment.

Meet your instructor

Heather Cianci

Heather Cianci, PT, MS, GCS, is the outpatient neurological team leader and founding therapist of the Dan Aaron Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Center (Penn Therapy & Fitness) at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA—part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Heather received her bachelor’s in physical therapy from…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Common Gait Presentations

This chapter will review the common gait deficits of those with Parkinson’s disease. This will include a comprehensive look at everything from environmental scanning to foot placement. Knowledge of these deficits allows clinicians to make skilled clinical observations and be better prepared to choose the appropriate outcome tool.

2. The Underlying Causes of Gait Deficits in Parkinson’s Disease

This chapter will summarize current research on the various causes of gait deficits in Parkinson’s disease as well as current research on medical, surgical, and rehabilitative management of them. Understanding the neurophysiology of motor and cognitive dysfunction that leads to these deficits helps the clinician to be better prepared to develop the best course of treatment for their patient.

3. Gait Assessment

This chapter will outline the best clinical outcome tools for capturing and measuring gait deficits for Parkinson’s disease. It will also discuss tools for assessing a patient’s cognitive capacity to learn and use movement techniques. Knowing which tools are best for a patient’s needs assists clinicians in developing appropriate and beneficial treatment sessions.

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