2017, Volume 9, Issue 3
Body posture in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Jacek Wilczyński1, Paweł Półrola (†)1
1Department of Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Kinesiotherapy, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce
Author for correspondence: Jacek Wilczyński; Department of Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Kinesiotherapy, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce; email: jwilczynski[at]onet.pl
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Abstract
Background: The purpose of the study was to analyze changes in the body posture and to assess the differences in posture between women and men with PD.
Material/Methods: A group of 32 patients were examined, who were members of the Parkinson’s Disease Association in Kielce. Body posture was examined by an optoelectronic method – Diers formetric III 4D – using raster stereography.
Results: Enlarged chest kyphosis (hyperkyphosis) was observed in 11 (34.37%) individuals. Enlarged lumbar lordosis (hyperlordosis) occurred in 10 (31.25%) patients. Deepened chest kyphosis and lumbar lordosis (hyperkyphosis-hyperlordosis) was noted in 3 (9.37%) individuals. Scoliosis occurred in 28 (87.5%) patients while 4 patients (12.5%) showed signs of scoliotic posture.
Conclusions: Significantly more postural defects were observed in individuals with PD compared to those who were healthy. This is especially true in the case of scoliotic posture. Highly significant differences in posture variables were observed between males and females, concerning body height and mass, angle of lumbar lordosis, trunk length (VP–DM) and trunk length (VP–SP). Patients with PD require systematic rehabilitation, which is as important as pharmacological treatment.
Key words: Parkinson’s disease, body posture, curvature of the spine