Abstract
The present study measured the grip strength of the toes and strength of the quadriceps of patients with Parkinsonʼs disease, and examined their relationships with walking parameters determined from the results of low- and optimum-speed walking. Subjects were17patients with Parkinsonʼs disease. The 17 patients underwent measurements of the grip strength of the toes and strength of the quadriceps, and their relationships with walking parameters obtained based on the results of walking at low and optimum speeds (walking speed, rate, stride, and step width) were examined. There were significant correlations between the grip strength of the toes, rate of low-speed walking, and stride. No significant correlations were noted between the grip strength of the toes and walking parameters determined from the results of optimum-speed walking. On the other hand,there were no significant correlations between the strength of the quadriceps and all walking parameters (of low- and optimum-speed walking). The results suggested that the ability to walk at a low speed was higher among patients with Parkinsonʼs disease when their grip strength of the toes was higher.
