| In this study, quantitative and qualitative motion analysis techniques were used to identify differences between three groups of participants completing two tasks (postural stability and gait): individuals with clinically diagnosed movement disorders (MD), individuals without movement disorders (CON), and individuals without any central nervous system dysfunction who were asked to try and replicate movements seen in movement disorders (MDC). All participants were asked to stand on a force platform and complete three trials of three arm conditions (arms at sides, hands on waist, and arms forward at shoulder height). The force platform measures were able to distinguish statistically significant differences between the MD and CON groups (p ≤ .05) but not the MDC and CON groups (p ≤ .05). As expected, the MD group exhibited a larger area of the sway path, and a larger amount of both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral sway than either the CON or MDC groups.; The spatial and temporal characteristics of a stride were calculated using two-dimensional kinematics. Each participant walked down a walkway three times at a self-selected pace. The following parameters were statistically significant: right stance phase, left swing phase, double support time, right and left single support, left step time, right and left step length, right and left step speed, stride distance, and stride speed (p ≤ .05). The variables analyzed distinguished statistically significant group differences between the CON and MD groups and CON and MDC groups but not MDC and MD groups (p ≤ .05). The MD group spent more time in double support, less time in swing phase, took shorter and slower steps than the CON group. However, the MDC group exhibited even lower values than the MD group for stride distance and speed.; The Labanotation total score for the postural stability and gait tasks was the only measure used in this study that distinguished statistically significant group differences (p ≤ .05) between all three groups of participants. The Labanotation total score is a useful method for identifying individuals with movement disorders in situations where expensive and time consuming motion analysis equipment is unavailable such as institutions for the developmentally disabled. |
