Objective: In this study the kinesthesia of back Extensors of PD patients with Camptocormia was examined.

Background: Camptocormia is a pathological flexion of the trunk occurring during idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (iPD) and it is often associated with back pain. Histological similarities between biopsies of paravertebral muscles of Patients with camptocormia and muscles after tendectomy suggest that a disturbed proprioceptive feedback contributes to pathogenesis.

Method: iPD patients with camptocormia (CC, n = 20), iPD patients without camptocormia (PD, n = 20) and healthy controls (HC, n = 20) were recruited at the Neurological Department of Kiel University. Camptocormia was defined as a forward bending of more than 30 degrees. We used a dynamometer to measure the back muscles’ force. Patients were asked to display 25% of their extensional maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and to hold this level for 90 seconds, initially with the help of a feedback screen. After 30 seconds the screen was turned off and patients had to keep the force level as constant as possible without feedback. To measure steadiness, the coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated.

Results: Holding 25% MVC for 90 seconds or 50% MVC for 60 seconds, the CC’s variability coefficients were significantly greater compared to the other two groups, while PD and HC were not significantly different to each other. There was no significant difference of the VC whether probands used biofeedback or not.

Conclusion: Testing kinesthesia reveals that maintaining a steady level of force with the back’s extensors is strenuous for CC patients. This deficit of kinesthesia has not been shown before.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/camptocormia-in-parkinsons-disease-impaired-kinesthesia-of-the-trunk-extensors/