Objective: To assess selected gait and anthropometric parameters in patients with Parkinson’s disease atteding the Physical therapy clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo Univeersity Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex and incapacitating disease characterized by progressive decline in motor function. It affects patient’sability to navigate through their environment.Gait disturbances are some of the most significant consequences seen in this group of patients. There seems to be dearth of statistics reporting gait characteristics in patients with PD in this part of the world.

Methods: This cross-sectional study purposively recruited 29 patients with diagnosis of Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease from the Physical therapy clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife. Data were obtained on athropometric parameters of weight, height and BMI as well as demographic details of age and sex. Gait parameters of speed, cadence, step and stride lenght were assessed using a BTS G-walk G-studio device. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Results: The study participants were mainly in their early oldage with mean age of 66.90±8.24years. There were more males affected (79.3%).Majority of the participants had their BMI within the normal range (23.91±3.55)kg/m². Gait parameters of speed, (47.41±11.49m/min), Cadence (45.42±4.49steps/min), stride length (1.03±0.20)m and step lenght (0.51±0.10)m. Significant inverse relationship between advancing age and step length (r= -0.86, p<0.05).

Conclusions: This study concluded that there was a significant gender predilection to male in patients with PD and that advancing age affects step length significantly.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/gait-and-anthropometric-characteristics-of-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-seen-in-a-nigerian-tertiary-hospital/