Overall , there are many scales and tests used to assess the balance disorders and disabilities of people with PD .
Postural instability is common in Parkinson ’s disease ( PD ) , often contributing to falls , injuries , and reduced mobility .
In the clinical setting , balance disorder is commonly diagnosed using clinical tests and balance scales , but it is suggested that the most sensitive measurement is the force platform .
The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the methods and various posturographic procedures used to assess the body balance and gait in PD .
Effects of Parkinson's disease and levodopa on functional limits of stability.
BACKGROUND The voluntary , maximum inclined posture reflects the self-perceived limits of stability . Parkinson 's disease is associated with small , bradykinetic postural weight shifts while st and ing but it is unclear whether this is due to reduced limits of stability and /or to the selection of abnormal strategies for leaning . The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Parkinson 's disease and levodopa medication on voluntary limits of stability and strategies used to reach these limits . METHODS Fourteen subjects with Parkinson 's disease ( OFF and ON levodopa ) and 10 age-matched controls participated in the study . Functional limits of stability were quantified as the maximum center of pressure excursion during voluntary forward and backward leaning . Postural strategies to achieve functional limits of stability were assessed by ( i ) body segments alignment , ( ii ) the difference between center of pressure and center of mass in preparation for a lean , ( iii ) the timing and the velocity of the preparation phase . FINDINGS Functional limits of stability were significantly smaller in subjects with Parkinson 's disease compared to control subjects . Subjects with Parkinson 's disease maintained their stooped posture while leaning , initiated leaning with a smaller difference between center of pressure and center of mass and had a slower leaning velocity compared to control subjects . Levodopa enlarged the limits of stability in subjects with Parkinson 's disease because of an increase in maximum forward , but not backward leans , but did not significantly improve postural alignment , preparation for a leaning movement , or velocity of leaning . INTERPRETATION Parkinson 's disease reduces functional limits of stability as well as the magnitude and velocity of postural preparation during voluntary , forward and backward leaning while st and ing . Levodopa improves the limits of stability but not the postural strategies used to achieve the leaning
Overall , there are many scales and tests used to assess the balance disorders and disabilities of people with PD .
Postural instability is common in Parkinson ’s disease ( PD ) , often contributing to falls , injuries , and reduced mobility .
In the clinical setting , balance disorder is commonly diagnosed using clinical tests and balance scales , but it is suggested that the most sensitive measurement is the force platform .
The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the methods and various posturographic procedures used to assess the body balance and gait in PD .