Predictive ability of functional tests for postural instability and gait difficulty in Parkinson's disease.

The objective of this study is to identify clinical determinants for postural instability and gait difficulty in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). Ninety-one persons (68 males; 74.7%) with PD were studied.

Treadmill exercise tests in persons with Parkinson's disease: responses and disease severity.

Background And Aims: There is a paucity of information on cardiovascular responses with regard to the disease stage of Parkinson's disease (PD) when using an exercise test. Our purpose was to examine whether cardiovascular responses to the treadmill exercise test differed among persons with PD who have different disease severity.

Methods: Forty-five subjects with PD were studied (34 men and 11 women).

Contribution of Axial Motor Impairment to Physical Inactivity in Parkinson Disease.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between motor symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) and activity limitations in persons with PD.

Design/methods: This is a cross-sectional study of persons with mild to moderate PD (N = 90). Associations among axial motor features, limb motor signs, the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and level of ADL dependency were studied.

Determinants of use of a walking device in persons with Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To identify determinants for the use of a walking device in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Design: Cross-sectional study of participants with PD.

Setting: Laboratory.

Assessment of appropriate medication administration for hospitalized patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: For Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, adherence to a regular PD medication schedule is important in achieving optimal symptom control. There are few published studies quantifying PD medication administrations in hospitalized PD patients.

Methods: Hospitalization records for 100 veterans with idiopathic PD and admitted to our center were reviewed to determine the on time rate and contraindicated medication doses.

Levodopa influences the regularity of the ankle joint kinematics in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

The aim of the investigation was to explore the influence of levodopa therapy on the regularity of the structural variations present in the lower extremity joints of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Ten participants with PD walked on a treadmill during the states of "off" and "on" levodopa. Approximate entropy was used to quantify the regularity of the structural variations present in the joint kinematics.

Movement disorders in Friedreich's ataxia.

Since the discovery of the gene mutation causing Friedreich's ataxia (FA), the rich spectrum of clinical manifestations of this autosomal recessive disorder is being increasingly recognized. Movement disorders besides ataxia, however, have not been fully characterized in patients with FA. We describe here two young male patients who, in addition to progressive ataxia, kinetic tremor and other typical features of FA, also manifest axial and limb dystonia.