Objective
To evaluate and quantify the postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using computerized posturography. Method: Twenty subjects with PD group (10 men, 10 women) and 20 control group (10 men, 10 women) were matched for age and sex. Average Hoehn-Yahr stage of PD group was 2.3⁑0.3. Sensory dysfunction, voluntary motor impairments and functional limitation were measured by determining the subject's response to reduced or altered sensory and voluntary motor control of balance. Results: PD subjects demonstrated wider area of sway (o) under eye closed condition in modified sensory organization test and lower directional control (%) in right/left rhythmic weight shift (p＜0.05). No significant difference was observed for sit to stand. Wider area of turn sway (o) and longer turn time (sec) during left step/quick turn were demonstrated in PD subjects (p＜0.05). Conclusion: Computerized posturography shows that sensory dysfunction scores, voluntary motor impairment scores and functional limitation test scores were reduced in patients with PD. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2007; 31: 176-181)
