Determination of problems with sitting and standing posture and gait motion and an intervention to improve posture and movement for a case with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

We performed physical therapy for a patient with Parkinson’s disease to improve posture and movement. The patient showed flexion of the thoracolumbar transition and lateral flexion while sitting, which continued even when standing, and also demonstrated pelvic posterior tilting due to poor flexion of both hip joints. In the standing position, the patient showed instability to the left and a tendency to fall because of left tilting of the trunk due to abduction of the left hip joint. These characteristics continued even during gait motion. During gait motion, left hip flexion and lateral flexion of the thoracolumbar transition caused instability to the left anterior and a tendency to fall from initial contact of the left foot to the mid-stance. The common problems of the sitting, standing, and gait motions were determined by top-down assessment, and improvement of posture and motion were achieved by intervention.