Computerized Analysis of Postural Instability in Parkinson's Disease

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using computerized posturography. METHOD: Twenty subjects with PD group (10 men, 10 women) and 20 control group (10 men, 10 women) were matched for age and sex. Average Hoehn-Yahr stage of PD group was 2.3+/-0.3. Sensory dysfunction, voluntary motor impairments and functional limitation were measured by determining the subject's response to reduced or altered sensory and voluntary motor control of balance. RESULTS: PD subjects demonstrated wider area of sway (degrees) under eye closed condition in modified sensory organization test and lower directional control (%) in right/left rhythmic weight shift (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed for sit to stand. Wider area of turn sway (degrees) and longer turn time (sec) during left step/quick turn were demonstrated in PD subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Computerized posturography shows that sensory dysfunction scores, voluntary motor impairment scores and functional limitation test scores were reduced in patients with PD.