ABSTRACT
Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a rollator on the prevention of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) during outdoor walks. Method: This study examined 30 community-dwelling patients with PD. Factors associated with falls were classified into clinical patient background, physical function, and psychophysiological function factors. The number of falls and subsequent injuries was observed over a period of greater than 6 months, if patients were using rollators while falls happened. Results: Participants who used a rollator had a significantly lower fall rate, number of falls, and injury rate than those who did not use a rollator (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A rollator could protect patients with PD from falls. Additionally, when considering the use of a rollator for patients with PD, it is important to assess the patient's physical and psychophysiological functions.
ABSTRACT
The present study investigated the effects of external cues on motor control of the ankle joint during gait initiation in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in age-matched healthy subjects. The soleus H-reflexes were recorded during self-generated and cue-triggered gait initiation. The tibialis anterior muscle burst during cue-triggered gait initiation was found to be significantly larger than that during self-generated gait initiation in both groups. External cues significantly increased soleus H-reflex depression during gait initiation in PD patients, although this significant increase was not present in healthy subjects. These findings indicate that external cues affect motor control of the extensor muscle of the ankle joint during gait initiation in PD patients.
