Postural Sway of Trunk and Upper Extremity Functional Skills in Atient With Parkinson Disease (pwPD)

Plain-language summary

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized clinically by motor and non-motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, resting tremor, and/or rigidity. Among the motor deficits observed in PD, decreased postural control often results in decreased balance. Furthermore, losses in many upper extremity and manual skills are also observed in PD. Loss of postural control is one of the key motor symptoms observed in the advanced stages of PD, increasing the risk of falls. Analysis of postural control deficits is critical for assessing disease progression and treatment planning in PD. In this context, gyroscope-based motion analysis systems are used as a reliable method for assessing trunk sway.Sensory deficits, such as decreased spatial and temporal tactile discrimination thresholds in the fingertips, are also observed in PD. Reaching and grasping deficits are more common when patients have significant difficulty initiating movements toward a target. These patients exhibit deficits in manipulating the hand relative to object geometry. A loss of coordination between reach and grasp timing is observed. These patients generally rely on visual cues to control movement. They experience difficulties in optimal object manipulation due to difficulties planning finger placement.Studies have shown a strong relationship between postural control and fine motor functions. For high-quality distal movement, better proximal stabilization is necessary. During upper extremity functions, the body's center of gravity must shift with arm movements, allowing adaptation to changing gravity. Good trunk control is essential for this dynamic process of maintaining balance. Studies examining this link between trunk control, balance, and hand functions are available in the literature. Among these studies conducted in diverse populations, studies involving PD are very few. In light of this information, our study was designed to investigate the relationship between postural trunk sway and hand dexterity in PD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between postural sway and upper extremity functional abilities in PD.

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