Effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on parkinsonian gait

Gait analysis was carried out to assess the effects of l-dopa and bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on gait velocity, cadence, stride length, and gait kinematics in nine patients with PD. Substantial effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on gait, with an increase in gait velocity and stride length comparable to that of a suprathreshold l-dopa dose, were found. Interestingly, stride length was more improved by l-dopa and cadence more by subthalamic nucleus stimulation. In two patients with freezing during the “on” period, subthalamic nucleus stimulation failed to reduce this symptom effectively.