An alternative perspective on interpretation of the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson disease

Abstract

Objectives: Cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson disease, including movement slowness, difficulties with gait and balance, manifest an alteration of mechanical structure-function relationships patterns of system with the disrupted tensegrity equilibrium. They can be identified as follows: Rigidity manifest as a new level of prestress, bradikinesia indicates a change of locomotion (speed and amplitude) of major parts of the body (torso, arms, legs and head). Stooped posture indicates a downgraded geometrical form of the tensegrity model. Postural impairments are the aggregation of rigidity, altered geometrical form, speed, amplitude and, as the result, coordination. Shuffling gait and freezing are an accumulation of all factors above, where latter associated with a cognitive decline along with inadequate match of sensory input with pre-existing maps for normal locomotion.