Strength and isometric torque control in individuals with Parkinson’s disease

• Published in: Experimental brain research Vol. 184; no. 3; pp. 445 - 450
• Main Authors: de Oliveira, Marcio Alves, Rodrigues, Ana Melissa, da Silva Caballero, Raphael Maciel, de Souza Petersen, Ricardo Demetrio, Shim, Jae Kun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 2008; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Basal Ganglia - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Disability Evaluation; Female; Finger; Fingers - innervation; Fingers - physiopathology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hand Strength - physiology; Handedness; Humans; Isometric; Isometric Contraction - physiology; Male; Medical sciences; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Motor Cortex - physiopathology; Motor Skills - physiology; Movement - physiology; Movement disorders; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle Weakness - diagnosis; Muscle Weakness - etiology; Muscle Weakness - physiopathology; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Neural Pathways - physiopathology; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurology; Neurosciences; Parkinson Disease - physiopathology; Parkinson's disease; Predictive Value of Tests; Range of Motion, Articular - physiology; Research Note; Torque; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Young adults; Motor redundancy; Torque; Force control; Parkinson’s disease; Finger; Human; Nervous system diseases; Parkinson's disease; Force; Redundancy; Thumb; Parkinson disease; Cerebral disorder; Handedness; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Extrapyramidal syndrome
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s00221-007-1212-9

It has been previously reported that patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) struggle with fine adjustments of finger forces while manipulating an object. However, impairments in everyday activities can not only be attributed to difficulties with the linear forces applied on an object, but also to the application of rotational forces (torque). This study examined finger strength and isometric torque control in elderly persons with PD. Six individuals with PD (66.1 ± 0.7 years), six elderly healthy controls (65.3 ± 0.2 years) matched by age, gender and handedness, and six young adults (22.3 ± 0.2 years) participated in this study. The subjects were asked to perform two tasks: maximum voluntary thumb-index pinching torque production (MVT) and constant isometric thumb-index torque control at 40% of their MVT for 20 s. The results showed decreased strength and increased difficulty in isometric torque control in individuals with PD as compared to their healthy peers. This study demonstrates that PD affects isometric finger torque production and control.