Authors: Stacey L Gorniak Andre G Machado Jay L Alberts
Publish Date: 2013/06/29
Volume: 229, Issue: 2, Pages: 261-271
Abstract
We investigated within and betweenhand gripload force coordination in medically managed Parkinson’s disease PD patients during bimanual tasks involving realistic actions Increased grip force production and evidence of bradykinesia were expected in PD patients Force coordination indices were also expected to be reduced in PD due to impaired anticipatory force control Increased grip force bradykinesia and abnormal load force production were exhibited in PD patients as compared to healthy controls Indices of betweenhand load force coordination but not betweenhand grip force coordination were reduced in PD patients Discrepancies in the strength of withinhand force coordination with respect to hand action were also noted in PD patients Increased grip force production in conjunction with abnormal load force production may result in reduced fine motor control in PD patients during daily activities Integrating quantitative analyses of realistic motor function in clinic may assist clinicians in evaluating the effectiveness of medical intervention in PD patientsThis project was supported by NIH Grant R01NS05870601 We would like to thank Anil Thota Jon Beno and Osmysis Cleveland OH USA for their assistance in device and data collection design We would also like to thank Ken Kula for his artistic contributions
Keywords: