Work and power reduced in L-dopa naïve patients in the early-stages of Parkinson's disease.

Unlabelled: Studies which have investigated muscular performance during the initial stages of Parkinson's disease (PD) without L-dopa treatments were not found.

Objective: to assess whether muscular performance, work and power, of the trunk and lower limbs in L-dopa naïve patients in the early stages of PD was lower than those of healthy subjects and to compare muscular performance between the lower limbs.

Method: Ten subjects with PD, Hoehn and Yahr (HY) I-II, L-dopa naïve and 10 subjects in the control group were assessed with the isokinetic dynamometer.

Results: ANOVAs revealed that work and power measures of the trunk, hip, knee, and ankle muscular groups were lower in PD compared with the control group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in muscular performance between the lower limbs.

Conclusion: The results suggested the use of specific exercises, as rehabilitation strategies, to improve the ability to produce work and power with this population.