Objective: The present study prospectively tested the effects of the subjective postural vertical on the exacerbation of the forward flexion of trunk (FFT) through long-term observation of Parkinson’s disease subjects.

Background: We developed a novel method to measure the angle of subjective postural vertical (SPV) and showed that the SPV may be related to the exacerbation of the forward flexed posture.

Method: Evaluation of the posture included measuring FFT, the angle of lateral flexion of trunk, and the angle at the position that the subject subjectively perceived as the vertical position at a stationary upright position immediately after standing up at the time of initial observation, 6 months later, and 1 year later.

Results: The SPV angles worsened significantly at 6 months and 1 year compared to the first measurements, such as 9.3 ± 6.7° vs. 10.8 ± 8.2°, 10.6 ± 7.8°, and P < 0.05, and the FFT angles worsened significantly at one year compared to the first measurements, such as 11.1 ± 8.1° vs. 12.2 ± 8.8°, P = 0.004. Additionally, the magnitude of change in the FFT angles was significantly higher in the group with a SPV ratio (SPV/FFT) of 1 or greater than the group with the SPV ratio of less than 1 (P = 0.014).

Conclusion: For the first time, a longitudinal study of a large number of cases showed that the SPV and the FFT change in tandem. Thus, the change in the SPV may precede the change in the FFT.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-effect-of-subjective-postural-vertical-on-forward-flexed-posture-in-parkinsons-disease/