Quantitative measurement of trunk rigidity in parkinsonian patients
- 1 February 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Zeitschrift für Neurologie
- Vol. 254 (2), 202-209
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-006-0327-4
Abstract
We aimed to develop an objective measurement to quantify trunk rigidity in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and to examine its reliability, validity and sensitivity in differentiating PD patients from control subjects. In Study 1, an isokinetic dynamometer was employed to assess trunk rigidity in 6 PD patients and 6 healthy controls. Passive trunk flexion and extension at 4 angular velocities were applied and resistive torques were recorded. Both work done and resistive peak torques to passive trunk flexion (TorquePF) and extension (TorquePE) were found to be highly reliable within a 2-day interval in PD patients and control subjects. In Study 2, trunk muscle tone was compared between 15 PD and 15 control subjects. Significantly higher muscle tone, as shown by increases in work done, and in TorquePF and TorquePE at higher movement speeds, was found in PD patients. Within each subject group, resistive trunk muscle tone was found to increase with increasing velocity of passive movement, but the extent of increase was greater in PD patients. Our results thus suggest that the objective method developed by us was reliable and could differentiate trunk rigidity in PD patients from that of healthy subjects.This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Axial parkinsonian symptoms can be improved: the role of levodopa and bilateral subthalamic stimulationJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2000
- Truncal muscle tonus in progressive supranuclear palsyJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 1998
- Disordered axial movement in Parkinson's disease.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 1996
- Portable device for quantifying parkinsonian wrist rigidityMovement Disorders, 1994
- Stretch reflex of quadriceps femoris and its relation to rigidity in Parkinson's diseaseActa Neurologica Scandinavica, 1992
- Pathophysiology of Rigidity and Akinesia in Parkinson’s DiseaseEuropean Neurology, 1989
- Physiological mechanisms of rigidity in Parkinson's disease.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 1983
- The behaviour of the long-latency stretch reflex in patients with Parkinson's diseaseJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 1983
- ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF GAIT IN SPASTICITY AND RIGIDITYBrain, 1981
- ParkinsonismNeurology, 1967