Ice skating is safe and skillfully preserved amongst some people living with Parkinson's disease : possibility of neurotherapeutic inervention

Abstract

Some people living with Parkinson’s disease (PLwPD) have been observed to have a preserved ability to ice skate. We examined kinematic parameters of ice skating and the immediately preceding and proceeding walking parameters amongst PLwPD to quantify skating preservation and determine if there are gait improvements. During ice skating trials PLwPD were able to maintain similar step length and velocity as older adult controls (OAC). Immediately walking post skating velocity and double stance support time improved. Locomotion was assessed during doorway crossing, an obstacle that increases motor impairments amongst some PLwPD. Ice skating through a doorway had similar results for both step length and velocity for PLwPD and OAC. Walking through a doorway after skating showed significant improvement to step length. These results quantitatively verify that ice skating is a preserved skill amongst some PLwPD in obstructed and unobstructed conditions, and that ice skating yields immediate improvements to gait parameters