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Investigation of muscle tone in patients with Parkinson’s disease in unloading conditions

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Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, the main symptoms of which are hypertonicity and difficulties emerging during performance of stepping movements due to increased muscle stiffness. Biomechanical (stiffness) and electrophysiological (shortening reaction, SR) characteristics of hip and shank muscles were examined in 25 patients with mild and moderate stages of PD (1 to 3 of Hoehn and Yahr Rating Scale, 61 ± 9 years) and 22 age-matched healthy controls in unloading leg conditions during passive flexion/extension of hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as the changes in the tonic state of muscles under the influence of levodopa. The data obtained were compared with similar findings in healthy subjects. Essentially greater stiffness in all leg muscle groups (except foot extensors) was observed in patients with PD as compared to the healthy subjects. In patients with PD, SR values in hip and shank extensors as well as in foot flexors and extensors were essentially greater then in the healthy subjects. The medicine essentially reduced the stiffness of hip flexors and knee flexors and extensors. The SR persisted, although the frequency of its occurrence decreased in half of studied muscles, and a significant decrease in the SR value was observed in foot extensors. The medicine had no marked effect on the SR in the proximal muscles. Thus, the increased muscle stiffness in patients with PD manifests itself as distorted reactions to external disturbances and increased reflectory reactions of muscles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 127994, Russia

    I. A. Solopova, V. A. Selionov, D. S. Zhvansky & Yu. P. Ivanenko

  2. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudnyi, Moscow oblast, Russia

    D. S. Zhvansky

  3. Research Center for Neurology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, 125367, Russia

    L. A. Chernikova

Authors
  1. I. A. Solopova
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  2. V. A. Selionov
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  3. D. S. Zhvansky
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  4. Yu. P. Ivanenko
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  5. L. A. Chernikova
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Additional information

Original Russian Text © I.A. Solopova, V.A. Selionov, D.S. Zhvansky, Yu.P. Ivanenko, L.A. Chernikova, 2014, published in Fiziologiya Cheloveka, 2014, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 14–21.

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Solopova, I.A., Selionov, V.A., Zhvansky, D.S. et al. Investigation of muscle tone in patients with Parkinson’s disease in unloading conditions. Hum Physiol 40, 125–131 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119714020157

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119714020157

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