Cervical proprioception in Parkinson's disease and its correlation with manual dexterity function

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Movement Disorders
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Cervical proprioception is vital for posture and movement.
• Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) affects motor control.
• The link between cervical function and upper limb performance in PD is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between cervical proprioception, muscle strength/endurance, and manual dexterity/hand strength in individuals with PD.
• To compare these measures between individuals with PD and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• 20 individuals with PD and 20 healthy controls participated.
• Assessments included cervical joint position error (JPE), neck muscle endurance (Craniocervical Flexion Test - CCFT), manual dexterity (Purdue Pegboard Test - PPT), finger tapping test (FTT), and hand strength.
• Cognitive and motor tasks of the PPT were also evaluated.

Main Results:

• Individuals with PD exhibited significantly higher cervical JPE and decreased neck muscle strength and endurance compared to controls (p < 0.05).
• Cervical JPE negatively correlated with PPT performance and CCFT endurance negatively correlated with PPT scores in the PD group (p < 0.05).
• Cervical flexor endurance positively correlated with hand strength in the PD group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Cervical proprioception and neck muscle function are diminished in individuals with PD.
• Impaired cervical proprioception is linked to reduced upper extremity function in PD.
• Evaluating the cervical region is crucial for understanding factors influencing upper limb performance in PD.