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Force control and disease severity in Parkinson's disease
Julie A Robichaud1, Kerstin D Pfann2, David E Vaillancourt2
1Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Movement Disorders : Official Journal of the Movement Disorder Society
|December 14, 2004
Summary
Measures of isometric contractions in Parkinson's disease (PD) correlate with motor impairment severity. Longer relaxation times and specific EMG power bands in PD patients reflect disease progression, aiding intervention assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor impairments.
- Isometric contractions show abnormalities in PD, including prolonged relaxation and altered electromyographic (EMG) power spectra.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if isometric contraction measures correlate with the severity of motor impairment in Parkinson's disease.
- To establish objective markers for motor deficits in PD.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-eight individuals with PD performed isometric contractions off medication.
- EMG signals were analyzed during contraction and relaxation phases.
- Correlations were assessed between contraction parameters and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-Motor score.
Main Results:
- Torque relaxation time positively correlated with UPDRS-Motor score.
- Increased EMG power in the 5-15 Hz band correlated positively with UPDRS-Motor score.
- Decreased EMG power in the 15-30 Hz band correlated negatively with UPDRS-Motor score.
Conclusions:
- Isometric contraction measures, specifically relaxation time and EMG frequency power, objectively quantify motor impairment severity in Parkinson's disease.
- These findings can inform the evaluation of therapeutic interventions for PD.