This Walking Change Could Be A Sign Of Early Parkinson’s

Difficulty walking up the stairs, thanks to the onset of a “shuffling” gait, has been linked to increased dementia risk.

And a decline in gait speed alongside cognitive changes has been associated with increased likelihood of developing the condition, too.

Those with Parkinson’s might notice multiple changes to their walking patterns, too, including smaller steps, slower speed, difficulty turning, and feet that land flat rather than on the heel, increasing a person’s risk of falls.

Scientists think that a change to the upper body while walking could reveal early Parkinson’s, too.

According to a 2016 paper, decreased arm swing while walking may serve as a prodromal (early and usually pre-diagnosis) sign of Parkinson’s.

They looked at the arm swing of people with the genetic mutation LRRK2-G2019S, which is linked to Parkinson’s. Some participants had Parkinson’s and the gene, but others had the gene with no symptoms of Parkinson’s.

After assessing the gait of 360 participants, the researchers found that assessing a person’s arm swing “may have the potential to contribute to an earlier clinical diagnosis” of Parkinson’s.

They aren’t the only ones to make the link.

A 2018 paper wrote that “Arm swing changes are common even in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease” and found helpful results from using a specialised camera when looking at the gaits of participants.

Parkinson’s Foundation lists a smaller arm swing when walking as one of the early symptoms to look out for, along with stiffness in your shoulder, arms, legs, and hips, and a “stuck to the floor” sensation in your feet.

Another 2009 paper found that asymmetrical arm swing – one arm swinging less than the other – might be especially common in early Parkinson’s.

Speaking to Medical News Today, Dr Xuemei Huang, associate professor of neurology and the study’s lead author, said: “We know that Parkinson’s patients lose their arm swing even very early in the disease, but nobody had looked using a scientifically measured approach to see if the loss was asymmetrical or when this asymmetry first showed up.

“Unlike arm swing magnitude, arm swing asymmetry unequivocally differs between people with early [Parkinson’s] and controls.”

If you think you might have symptoms of Parkinson’s, see your GP.