Análise da descarga de peso corporal sobre os membros inferiores de indivíduos com Doença de Parkinson: estudo observacional

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder in the world. Some symptoms of PD, such as tremor, stiffness and bradykinesia initially manifest unilaterally, both in the upper and lower limbs. This asymmetry of PD symptoms can lead to changes, for example, during maintenance of postures and gait, activities that require bilateral control. Thus, it is believed that individuals with PD also present asymmetry during weight-bearing between the lower limbs. Objectives: To evaluate the symmetry in the weight-bearing on the lower limbs of individuals with PD during the orthostatic position. Methodology: In this observational study, 35 individuals with PD were evaluated, being men and women between 45 and 75 years old, who were between the mild and moderate phase of the disease. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected; then weight-bearing was evaluated, and the ground reaction force (GRF) exerted by each lower limb was obtained. The data were collected using a force platform, with the participants in the position of orthostatism, at rest and in bipodal support. The mean and peak values of the GRF of the limb most affected by PD with the contralateral limb were compared. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the GRF values of the initially affected limb and the contralateral limb (FRS mean: p = 0.08; FRS peak: p = 0.10). Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, the evaluation of the weight-bearing in the lower limb initially more affected and in the contralateral limb did not find significant asymmetry during orthostatism. Such findings are important because they allow us to direct actions for the deficits that are, in fact, clinically significant in PD.