OBJECTIVE: The differential diagnosis between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease is difficult, especially in the early stage. Severe postural instability, falls, and complex gait impairments are usually confined to the later stage of Parkinson's disease, while atypical parkinsonism patients may present a severe postural instability with consequent falls in the earlier stages. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 20 subjects with parkinsonism using clinical and baropodometric tools to give quantitative and objective data on the postural, balance, and gait disturbances. RESULTS: The statistical analysis between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease patients showed a significant difference in the frequency of long lead time parameter, foot area, foot load and speed, and, in particular, atypical parkinsonism patients presented a prevalent long lead time impairment (8/8 patients) when compared with Parkinson's disease patients. DISCUSSION: Beside significant differences in the clinical features between the Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism, our study showed that baropodometric investigation may a valuable tool for the definition of postural and motor extrapyramidal abnormalities, permitting an earlier differentiation between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease.
OBJECTIVE: The differential diagnosis between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease is difficult, especially in the early stage. Severe postural instability, falls, and complex gait impairments are usually confined to the later stage of Parkinson's disease, while atypical parkinsonismpatients may present a severe postural instability with consequent falls in the earlier stages. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 20 subjects with parkinsonism using clinical and baropodometric tools to give quantitative and objective data on the postural, balance, and gait disturbances. RESULTS: The statistical analysis between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's diseasepatients showed a significant difference in the frequency of long lead time parameter, foot area, foot load and speed, and, in particular, atypical parkinsonismpatients presented a prevalent long lead time impairment (8/8 patients) when compared with Parkinson's diseasepatients. DISCUSSION: Beside significant differences in the clinical features between the Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism, our study showed that baropodometric investigation may a valuable tool for the definition of postural and motor extrapyramidal abnormalities, permitting an earlier differentiation between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease.
Authors: Athanasios Tsanas; Max A Little; Patrick E McSharry; Blake K Scanlon; Spyridon Papapetropoulos Journal: Parkinsonism Relat Disord Date: 2012-02-07 Impact factor: 4.891
Authors: W F Abdo; G F Borm; M Munneke; M M Verbeek; R A J Esselink; B R Bloem Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2006-07-17 Impact factor: 10.154