Comparing auditory, visual and vibrotactile cues in individuals with Parkinson's disease for reducing risk of falling over different types of soil.

Introduction: Several researchers have demonstrated the positive benefits of auditory and visual cueing in the gait improvements among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, few studies have evaluated the role of vibrotactile cueing when compared to auditory and visual cueing. This paper compares how these stimuli affect the risk of falling while walking on six types of soil (concrete, sand, parquet, broken stone, two types of carpet).

Use of an Enactive Insole for Reducing the Risk of Falling on Different Types of Soil Using Vibrotactile Cueing for the Elderly.

Background: Our daily activities imply displacements on various types of soil. For persons with gait disorder or losing functional autonomy, walking on some types of soil could be challenging because of the risk of falling it represents.

Methods: In this paper, we present, in a first part, the use of an enactive shoe for an automatic differentiation of several types of soil.

Corticomotor excitability in Parkinson's disease during observation, imagery and imitation of action: effects of rehabilitation using wii fit and comparison to healthy controls.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is responsible for a progressive motor impairment. Wii Fit game represents an innovative treatment modality using external visual cueing, which can be used to help patients with PD in executing motor tasks and improving function.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were (1) to compare lower limb corticomotor activation in subjects with and without PD during action observation (OBS), motor imagery (IMAG), and imitation (IMIT), and (2) to evaluate the effects of a 6-week training program using Wii Fit on corticomotor excitability during these 3 conditions.

Effect of repetitive afferent electrical stimulation of the lower limb on corticomotor excitability and implications for rehabilitation.

Despite the extensive work published on the effects of electrical stimulation on corticomotor excitability, very few studies have focused on lower limb muscles. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of high-frequency afferent electrical stimulation of the anterior thigh area on the corticomotor excitability of lower limb muscles. Twenty-two healthy subjects (mean age 23 ± 7 years) participated in the study.

Home-based balance training programme using Wii Fit with balance board for Parkinsons's disease: a pilot study.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a home-based balance training programme using visual feedback (Nintendo Wii Fit game with balance board) on balance and functional abilities in subjects with Parkinson's disease, and to compare the effects with a group of paired healthy subjects.

Subjects: Ten subjects with moderate Parkinson's disease and 8 healthy elderly subjects.

Methods: Subjects participated in a 6-week home-based balance training programme using Nintendo Wii Fit and balance board.

Cortico-motor excitability of the lower limb motor representation: a comparative study in Parkinson's disease and healthy controls.

Objective: To compare indices of cortico-motor excitability derived from transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the lower limb motor representation in patients with Parkinson's diseases (PD) and healthy controls.

Methods: The cortico-motor excitability of the lower limb motor area was studied both at rest (motor threshold, amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs)) and during active contraction of the quadriceps (Quad) muscle (MEPs facilitation and silent period) in 10 PD patients (11 legs) and 11 healthy controls using single pulse TMS.

Results: At rest, the motor threshold was found to be significantly lower and the amplitude of MEPs larger in patients than in controls.