Objective: The early stage of Parkinson’s disease (PD) (Hoehn-Yahr (HY) I-II stages) is characterized by a negative pull test, which clinically excludes postural instability. Previous studies with dynamic posturography detected balance disturbances even at the onset of the disease, but the age dependency or prediction of dyskinesia with dynamic posturography are not known.

Background: We wanted to know whether the postural instability evoked by dynamic posturography is part of the early stage of Parkinson’s disease. How can we provoke the dyskinesia?

Method: The postural instability with static and dynamic posturography was studied in 45 patients with PD in their HY I, II stages, compared with 35 age matched healthy controls. Eighteen patients with dyskinesia were involved in the study and 14 were followed for two years with a new, simpler method for dynamic posturography.

Results: The amplitude of oscillations during dynamic posturography was significantly higher in the group under 65 years than that of age matched healthy controls. The group with PD above 65 years showed significantly worse equilibrium assessed by both static and dynamic posturography than the controls. The imbalance of patients with dyskinesia was provoked when they held weights (dynamic posturographia) compared to patients with PD without dyskinesia. The results were independent of age.

Conclusion: Postural instability is present in early PD and dyskinesia induces the greatest danger for falling, increased by weights but independently of age.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/postural-instability-assessed-by-static-and-dynamic-posturography-in-the-early-stage-of-parkinsons-disease/