PubMed2003
Planning and verification of progress of efficacious physiotherapeutic effect on Parkinson's disease depends notably on the right identification of areas and scope of dysfunction of motoric systems. Biomechanical evaluation of motoric organ disability made by means of three-dimensional motion analysis using the "Vicon" system can make it considerably easier. A sample of three patients (two women and one man of average age of sixty-four) with idiopathic parkinsonism has been examined for the purpose of this evaluation. Based upon results of the three-dimensional motion analysis of these patients, dominant individual movement disorders were determined and individual therapeutic rehabilitation using the PNF method was planned. Within therapy, using the PNF method, they applied special techniques using motor patterns for the pelvis, upper and lower limbs in order to improve movement through an approach of assessed parameters to the biomechanical standard. After three weeks of therapy, specific characteristics of gait were examined again. On the basis of research results before therapy, it was found that these patients had none or limited scope of plantar flexion of feet, excessive dorsal flexion of feet, lengthened duration of stance phase, considerable excessive external rotation of shanks and excessive anteversion of the pelvis during gait cycle. Also big differences in values for spatiotemporal parameters (such as walking speed and frequency, stride length and time of single limb support) between the patients and healthy people were observed. After therapy, there has not been a marked variability in the scope of angular changes to the above-mentioned dysfunction. Only proportions between the duration of stance phase and swing phase have improved noticeably, so that they have directly resulted in better rhythm of gait. They have considerably approached the standards of frequency and speed (p = 0.05). However, stride length and duration of single limb support has not changed significantly.