scholarly journals Blindfolded Balance Training in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Sensory-Motor Strategy to Improve the Gait

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tramontano ◽  
S. Bonnì ◽  
A. Martino Cinnera ◽  
F. Marchetti ◽  
C. Caltagirone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Motor Strategy ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Sensory Motor ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Phase Percentage

Aim. Recent evidence suggested that the use of treadmill training may improve gait parameters. Visual deprivation could engage alternative sensory strategies to control dynamic equilibrium and stabilize gait based on vestibulospinal reflexes (VSR). We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a blindfolded balance training (BBT) in the improvement of stride phase percentage reliable gait parameters in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) compared to patients treated with standard physical therapy (PT).Methods. Thirty PD patients were randomized in two groups of 15 patients, one group treated with BBT during two weeks and another group treated with standard PT during eight weeks. We evaluated gait parameters before and after BBT and PT interventions, in terms of double stance, swing, and stance phase percentage.Results. BBT induced an improvement of double stance phase as revealed (decreased percentage of double stance phase during the gait cycle) in comparison to PT. The other gait parameters swing and stance phase did not differ between the two groups.Discussion. These results support the introduction of complementary rehabilitative strategies based on sensory-motor stimulation in the traditional PD patient’s rehabilitation. Further studies are needed to investigate the neurophysiological circuits and mechanism underlying clinical and motor modifications.

scholarly journals Relationship between Gait Parameters and Postural Stability in Early and Late Parkinson's Disease and Visual Feedback-Based Balance Training Effects

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohieldin M. Ahmed ◽  
Douaa M. Mosalem ◽  
Aziz K. Alfeeli ◽  
Ayyoub B. Baqer ◽  
Doaa Youssry Soliman
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Gait Analysis ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Dynamic Posturography ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Group B

BACKGROUND: Gait disorders or postural instability has been done before. However, lack of reviews has addressed the relation between gait and postural stability in Parkinson's disease (PD).AIM: The aim was to evaluate the relation between gait parameters and postural stability in early and late stages of PD.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The forty-one idiopathic PD patients were divided into two groups into a group (A) considered as early PD and group (B) considered as late ambulant PD. They were evaluated for postural stability by computerised dynamic posturography (CDP) device and gait analysis using an 8 m-camera Vicon 612 data capturing system set.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement of composite equilibrium score, the composite latency of motor response, walking speed and cadence after treatment as compared to before training (p < 0.05) in early PD. However, in the late PD, there was a non-significant change of previous parameters after treatment as compared to before training (p > 0.05).There was a significant correlation between UPDRS motor part score, walking speed and composite equilibrium score after training in early PD (p > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Both gait analysis and CDP are important quantitative assessment tools of gait and posture instability.

Visual Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation in a Patient with Parkinson’s Disease

2019 ◽  
pp. 158-173
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Deep Brain Stimulation ◽  
Visual System ◽  
Brain Stimulation ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Initial Examination ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Deep Brain ◽  
Cover Test

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a dopamine deficiency that presents with motor symptoms. Visual disorders can occur concomitantly but are frequently overlooked. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been an effective treatment to improve tremors, stiffness and overall mobility, but little is known about its effects on the visual system. Case Report: A 75-year-old Caucasian male with PD presented with longstanding binocular diplopia. On baseline examination, the best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 in each eye. On observation, he had noticeable tremors with an unsteady gait. Distance alternating cover test showed exophoria with a right hyperphoria. Near alternating cover test revealed a significantly larger exophoria accompanied by a reduced near point of convergence. Additional testing with a 24-2 Humphrey visual field and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the nerve and macula were unremarkable. The patient underwent DBS implantation five weeks after initial examination, and the device was activated four weeks thereafter. At follow up, the patient still complained of intermittent diplopia. There was no significant change in the manifest refraction or prism correction. On observation, the patient had remarkably improved tremors with a steady gait. All parameters measured were unchanged. The patient was evaluated again seven months after device activation. Although vergence ranges at all distances were improved, the patient was still symptomatic for intermittent diplopia. OCT scans of the optic nerve showed borderline but symmetric thinning in each eye. All other parameters measured were unchanged. Conclusion: The case found no significant changes on ophthalmic examination after DBS implantation and activation in a patient with PD. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no other cases in the literature that investigated the effects of DBS on the visual system pathway in a patient with PD before and after DBS implantation and activation.

scholarly journals Evaluation of fecal microbiota transplantation in Parkinson's disease patients with constipation

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-yi Kuai ◽  
Xiao-han Yao ◽  
Li-juan Xu ◽  
Yu-qing Zhou ◽  
Li-ping Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation ◽  
Fecal Microbiota ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and 70–80% of PD patients suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating PD related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. We conducted a prospective, single- study. Eleven patients with PD received FMT. Fecal samples were collected before and after FMT and subjected to 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grade, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, and the Non-Motion Symptom Questionnaire (NMSS) were used to assess improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms. PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score were used to assess the patient's constipation symptoms. All patients were tested by the small intestine breath hydrogen test, performed before and after FMT. Community richness (chao) and microbial structure in before-FMT PD patients were significantly different from the after-FMT. We observed an increased abundance of Blautia and Prevotella in PD patients after FMT, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased dramatically. After FMT, the H-Y grade, UPDRS, and NMSS of PD patients decreased significantly. Through the lactulose H2 breath test, the intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in PD patients returned to normal. The PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score in after-FMT patients decreased significantly. Our study profiles specific characteristics and microbial dysbiosis in the gut of PD patients. FMT might be a therapeutic potential for reconstructing the gut microbiota of PD patients and improving their motor and non-motor symptoms.

Changes in Body Composition Before and After Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengfang Song ◽  
Zhehui Luo ◽  
Chenxi Li ◽  
Xuemei Huang ◽  
Eric J. Shiroma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Before And After

Blood Cholesterol Decreases as Parkinson’s Disease Develops and Progresses

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Keran Wang ◽  
Zhehui Luo ◽  
Chenxi Li ◽  
Xuemei Huang ◽  
Eric J. Shiroma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Cholesterol Level ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Prodromal Stage ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Blood Total Cholesterol

Background: Literature shows an inverse association of circulating cholesterol level with the risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD); this finding has important ramifications, but its interpretation has been debated. Objective: To longitudinally examine how blood total cholesterol changes during the development of PD. Methods: In the Health, Aging and Body Composition study (n = 3,075, 73.6±2.9 years), blood total cholesterol was measured at clinic visit years 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 11. We first examined baseline cholesterol in relation to PD risk, adjusting for potential confounders and competing risk of death. Then, by contrasting the observed with expected cholesterol levels, we examined the trajectory of changes in total cholesterol before and after disease diagnosis. Results: Compared to the lowest tertile of baseline total cholesterol, the cumulative incident ratio of PD and 95%confidence interval was 0.41 (0.20, 0.86) for the second tertile, and 0.69 (0.35, 1.35) for the third tertile. In the analysis that examined change of total cholesterol level before and after PD diagnosis, we found that its level began to decrease in the prodromal stage of PD and became statistically lower than the expected values∼4 years before disease diagnosis (observed-expected difference, –6.68 mg/dL (95%confidence interval: –13.14, –0.22)). The decreasing trend persisted thereafter; by year-6 post-diagnosis, the difference increased to –13.59 mg/dL (95%confidence interval: –22.12, –5.06), although the linear trend did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.10). Conclusion: Circulating total cholesterol began to decrease in the prodromal stage of PD, which may in part explain its reported inverse association with PD.

The effects of levodopa in the spatiotemporal gait parameters are mediated by self‐selected gait speed in Parkinson’s disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Júlia Ávila de Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Rodrigo Bazán ◽  
Claudia Eunice Neves Oliveira ◽  
Renata Castro Treza ◽  
Sandy Mikie Hondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Gait Parameters

scholarly journals Quantitative assessment of gait parameters in people with Parkinson's disease in laboratory and clinical setting: Are the measures interchangeable?

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Pau ◽  
Federica Corona ◽  
Roberta Pili ◽  
Carlo Casula ◽  
Marco Guicciardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Experimental Setting ◽  
Optoelectronic System ◽  
Double Support ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Wearable Accelerometers

This study aimed to investigate possible differences in spatio-temporal gait parameters of people with Parkinson’s Disease (pwPD) when they are tested either in laboratory using 3D Gait Analysis or in a clinical setting using wearable accelerometers. The main spatio-temporal gait parameters (speed, cadence, stride length, stance, swing and double support duration) of 31 pwPD were acquired: i) using a wearable accelerometer in a clinical setting while wearing shoes (ISS); ii) same as condition 1, but barefoot (ISB); iii) using an optoelectronic system (OES) undressed and barefoot. While no significant differences were found for cadence, stance, swing and double support duration, the experimental setting affected speed and stride length that decreased (by 17% and 12% respectively, P<0.005) when passing from the clinical (ISS) to the laboratory (OES) setting. These results suggest that gait assessment should be always performed in the same conditions to avoid errors, which may lead to inaccurate patient’s evaluations.

scholarly journals Acoustic voice assessment in Parkinson's disease patients submitted to posteroventral pallidotomy

2005 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Figueiredo Mourão ◽  
Patrícia Maria de Carvalho Aguiar ◽  
Fernando Antônio Patriani Ferraz ◽  
Mara Suzana Behlau ◽  
Henrique Ballalai Ferraz
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Postoperative Complications ◽  
Speech Disorders ◽  
Acoustic Parameters ◽  
Voice Assessment ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Posteroventral Pallidotomy

Long-term complications in levodopa treated Parkinson's disease (PD) patients caused a resurgence of interest in pallidotomy as an option of treatment. However, postoperative complications such as speech disorders can occur. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the acoustic voice in PD patients, before and after posteroventral pallidotomy. METHOD: Twelve patients with PD were submitted to neurological and voice assessments during the off and on phases, in the pre-operative, 1st and 3rd post-operative months. The patients were evaluated with the UPDRS and the vocal acoustic parameters - f0, NHR, jitter, PPQ, Shimmer, APQ (using the software MultiSpeech - Kay Elemetrics - 3700). RESULTS: The off phase UPDRS scores revealed a tendency to improvement at the 1st month and the off phase worsened. The shimmer and APQ improved. CONCLUSION: This study shows that pallidotomy has little improvement on functional use of communication of PD patients.

scholarly journals Sleep Quality and Levodopa Intestinal Gel Infusion in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Oriol De Fabregues ◽  
Alex Ferré ◽  
Odile Romero ◽  
Manuel Quintana ◽  
José Álvarez-Sabin
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Periodic Leg Movements ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

Background. Sleep problems in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) have a deleterious impact on quality of life. Objective. To assess the effect of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion on sleep quality in advanced PD patients. Methods. Seven patients participated in a prospective pilot study. Before and after 6 months of LCIG infusion, an overnight polysomnography was performed and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, fatigue scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were administered. Results. PSG showed low sleep efficiency. REM sleep without atony was found in 5 patients. After 6 months of LCIG infusion, the percentage of REM sleep decreased as well as the number of arousals especially due to reduction of spontaneous arousals and periodic leg movements during REM sleep, but differences were not statistically significant. Also, scores of all study questionnaires showed a tendency to improve. Conclusion. The results show a trend toward an improvement of sleep quality after 6 months of LCIG infusion, although differences as compared to pretreatment values were not statistically significant. The sleep architecture was not modified by LCIG. Further studies with larger study samples are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

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