Postural adjustments under external perturbation in individuals with Parkinson's Disease and healthy controls

Abstract

Cognitive component and the cortical processing are necessary to maintain the posture that employs predictive and reactive mechanisms of control. People with Parkinson's disease (PD) show decrease on postural control, especially in presence of some external perturbation. The cue use during the postural perturbation appeared to be efficient to improve the postural control in neurologically healthy individuals. However, the influence of cue on the postural control of people with PD is least known. The aims of this thesis are compare the predictive and reactive postural adjustment in neurologically healthy individuals and people with PD (Study 1), and to verify the influence of cues on perturbation and postural control during these adjustments (Study 2). Forty individuals (20 with PD and 20 neurologically healthy) selected in community will participate of this study. Postural perturbation will be apply by the anterior-posterior displacement of support surface in some conditions that vary in presentation (unexpected and unpredictable) and the cue type (perturbation, verbal information, and somatosensory of required control). Electromyography and kinetic parameters will be analyzed of predictive and reactive postural adjustments. The data will be analyzed by parametric statistical for comparisons between group and between conditions with the 5% significant level. (AU)