Toe Flexor Weakness Associated Disease Progression in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare toe flexor strength in Parkinson's disease with healthy elderly people, and to assess the relationship between toe flexor strength and disease severity and duration, in order to clarify the parkinsonian characteristics of toe flexor strength, which is important for postural control.
Methods: Twenty-five patients with Parkinson's disease and 25 healthy elderly people participated in the study. Measurement items were characteristics of subjects and toe flexor strength, knee extension strength. In data analysis we compared toe flexor strength and knee extension strength of parkinsonian with elderly people, and assessed the relationship between these strengths and characteristics of patients.
Results: Toe flexor strength of patients with Parkison's disease was weaker than that of healthy elderly people. Toe flexor strength showed negative correlation with age and disease severity and duration. In patients with Parkinson's disease, toe flexor strength of Yahr 2 subgroup was significantly weaker than Yahr 4 subgroup.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the patients with Parkinson's disease has toe flexor weakness associated with aging and disease progression.