Abstract

Falls associated with tripping over an obstacle can be dangerous, yet little is known about the strategies used for stepping over obstacles in older Parkinson disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower extremity muscle activity on the obstacle gait according to obstacle height in older Parkinson diseases. The obstacle gait of 7 older Parkinson disease was examined during a 5.0 m approach to, and while stepping over, obstacles of 0, 25, 52, and 152mm. Seven pairs of surface electrodes(Noraxon MyoResearch, USA) were attached to the right-hand side of the body to monitor the adductor longus(AL), gluteus medius(GME), gluteus maximus(GMA), biceps femoris(BF), rectus femoris(RF), gastrocnemius(GA), tibialis anterior(TA). Electromyography data were filtered using a 10Hz to 350 Hz Butterworth band-pass digital filter and normalized to the maximum value in the analyzed phases. A one-way ANOVA for repeated measures was employed for selected electromyography variables to analyze the differences of the height of four obstacles. The results showed significant differences between 0.0mm and 25, 52, and 152mm obstacle height in TA and GA activities during the second phase(swing phase). But the more increase obstacle height, the more not increase the muscle activities. This means that the Parkinson disease stepping over obstacle inefficiency. To prevent and reduce the frequency of falls, elderly Parkinson disease maintained and improved their balance, muscular strength, neuromuscular control and mobility.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call