A New Methodological Approach Integrating Motion Capture and Pressure-Sensitive Gait Data to Assess Functional Mobility in Parkinson’s Disease: A Two-Phase Study

Existing clinical assessments of Parkinson's disease (PD) primarily focus on stratifying symptom severity or progression rate, which limits their ability to capture changes in functional mobility-an important factor in evaluating rehabilitation outcomes. To address this gap, we developed a novel methodology, the Functional Mobility Assessment for Parkinson's (FMA-P), which integrates motion capture and pressure-sensitive gait analysis to explore key aspects of functional mobility. Study 1. To develop the FMA-P, we conducted a pilot study involving 12 individuals with PD and 12 age-matched healthy controls, who each completed the FMA-P sequence three times. The sequence included the following tasks: rising from a chair, walking through a doorway, turning, bending to pick up and place an object, and returning to a seated position. Results from Study 1 demonstrated that the FMA-P is a sensitive tool for identifying functional impairments in PD. In particular, significant differences between people with Parkinson's (PwP) and controls were observed during chair rise (higher peak trunk inclination, <i>p</i> = 0.006; lower mean trunk jerk, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and turning task (longer task duration, <i>p</i> = 0.026 and lower mean heel strike angle, <i>p</i> = 0.007), providing critical insights into postural stability. Study 2. To assess changes in functional mobility over time, we conducted a 12-week repeated-measures intervention study with 12 participants with PD. Results from Study 2 indicated notable improvements in turning stability and balance. Participants demonstrated reduced turning time (<i>p</i> = 0.006) and increased yaw rotation in the head (<i>p</i> = 0.001), trunk (<i>p</i> = 0.002), and pelvis (<i>p</i> = 0.012). In contrast, no significant changes were observed in standard clinical measures (i.e., Timed Up and Go and task duration). The FMA-P offers fine-grained insights into movement quality, making it a valuable tool for early diagnosis, monitoring intervention efficacy, and guiding rehabilitation strategies in individuals with PD.