Subjective postural vertical in Parkinson's disease with lateral trunk flexion

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with lateral trunk flexion (LTF) exhibit impaired perception of verticality.
• This sensory-motor deficit significantly impacts balance and mobility in PD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure the subjective postural vertical in the coronal plane (SPVc) angle in PD patients with LTF.
• To determine the correlation between SPVc angles and the severity of LTF.
• To investigate the utility of SPVc assessment for PD patients with LTF.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-nine PD patients with varying degrees of LTF were analyzed.
• Subjective postural vertical in the coronal plane (SPVc) angles were measured on both ipsilateral and contralateral sides.
• Correlation and comparative analyses were performed between LTF angles, SPVc angles, and SPVc ratios.

Main Results:

• Significant positive correlations were found between LTF and SPVc angles on all measured sides.
• A significant negative correlation was observed between LTF angle and the SPVc ratio.
• SPVc angles were significantly greater in patients with moderate to severe LTF compared to those with mild LTF.

Conclusions:

• Subjective postural vertical in the coronal plane (SPVc) assessment is a valuable tool for evaluating PD patients with LTF.
• SPVc measurements can provide insights into the severity of LTF in Parkinson's disease.
• This assessment method may aid in understanding the relationship between postural control and verticality perception in PD.