Assessment of postural balance among individuals with Parkinson disease with and without effects from dopaminergic medications.

Objective: The objectives of the present study were to assess the effects of dopaminergic drugs on the postural balance of Parkinson disease (PD) patients and to ascertain whether their sway is greater along the mediolateral or the anteroposterior axis.

Design: Twenty-two patients awaiting operations for implantation of a deep brain stimulator at the neurology service of Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo School of Medicine (HC-FMUSP), were assessed. All of them were assessed on the AccuSway portable force platform, through evaluation of the center of pressure.