Oxygen cost of over-ground walking in persons with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease.

Only people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease who could walk without an assistive device were studied, so the result may not apply to more advanced disease. Testing was done after taking levodopa, so it may not reflect walking when medication is not working. The study compared groups at one time. It did not show that shorter stride length caused the higher oxygen cost. The authors note there is no known minimal clinically important difference for oxygen cost, so the size of the difference may be hard to interpret. The study did not examine whether higher oxygen cost leads to less activity or fatigue.

The supplied metadata lists NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support. No author conflicts of interest are stated in the text.

Do not read this as proof that Parkinson's disease always makes walking less efficient. The groups did not differ in walking speed, distance or oxygen use during steady walking, and the study measured people once, so it cannot show that shorter stride length caused the higher oxygen cost.