Effects of bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on parkinsonian gait

Gait analysis was carried out to assess the effects of L-dopa and, bilatera l subthalamic nucleus stimulation on gait velocity, cadence, stride length, and gait kinematics in nine patients with PD. Substantial effects of bilat eral subthalamic nucleus stimulation on gait, with an increase in gait velo city and stride length comparable to that of a suprathreshold L-dopa dose, were found. Interestingly, stride length m as more improved by L-dopa and c adence more by subthalamic nucleus stimulation. In two patients with freezi ng during the "on" period, subthalamic nucleus stimulation failed to reduce this symptom effectively.