The effects of additional arm weights on arm-swing magnitude and gait patterns in Parkinson's disease

•Decreased arm swing is a typical gait characteristic in Parkinson's disease.•Adding weight to the arm facilitates limb movements in Parkinson's disease.•Additional arm weight improves gait disturbance in Parkinson's disease.

ObjectiveRecently, arm facilitation has been interested in gait rehabilitation. However, there have been few studies concerning arm facilitation in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of increasing arm weights on gait pattern in patients with PD.MethodsTwenty-seven patients with PD were enrolled, and they underwent gait analysis using a three-dimensional motion capture system. Sandbags were applied to the distal forearms in all participants. We compared gait parameters including arm swing, pelvic motion, spatiotemporal data, and relative rotational angle between the weighted and unweighted gaits.ResultsThe total arm-swing amplitude and pelvic rotation were significantly higher when walking with additional arm weights than without arm weights. Cadence, walking speed, stride length, and swing phase were significantly higher, whereas stride time, double-support time, and stance phase were significantly lower, when walking with additional arm weights than without arm weights.ConclusionsWe conclude that adding weights to the arm during walking may facilitate arm and pelvic movements, which results in changes to gait patterns. The therapeutic use of additional arm weights could be considered for gait rehabilitation in PD to improve gait impairment.SignificanceArm-swing facilitation using weight load improved gait in Parkinson's disease.