Gait Analysis May Contribute to Identify Digital Biomarkers in Functional Motor Disorders

Gait disturbances represent a prominent feature of Functional Movement Disorders (FMD), but their characterization with respect to both healthy individuals (HC) and patients with organic motor disorders remains incomplete. The present study compared gait performance among 75 patients with FMD, 40 patients with organic motor disorders, and 75 HC. Participants performed walking trials under single-task and dual-task conditions (motor, cognitive, and visual) while gait parameters were captured using a 3D motion analysis system. Results showed that patients with FMD exhibited impaired gait compared with HC across all conditions. FMD patients versus HC displayed longer stride and stance times, reduced stride length, slower walking speed, and increased variability. However, in most parameters, FMD patients performed better than those with organic motor disorders, who displayed the most severe gait pattern.