title: Can Baropodometric Analysis be a Useful Tool in the Early Diagnosis of Atypical Parkinsonism? Preliminary Findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The differential diagnosis between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease is difficult, especially in the early stage. Severe postural instability, falls, and complex gait impairments are usually confined to the later stage of Parkinson's disease, while atypical parkinsonism patients may present a severe postural instability with consequent falls in the earlier stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied 20 subjects with parkinsonism using clinical and baropodometric tools to give quantitative and objective data on the postural, balance, and gait disturbances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The statistical analysis between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease patients showed a significant difference in the frequency of long lead time parameter, foot area, foot load and speed, and, in particular, atypical parkinsonism patients presented a prevalent long lead time impairment (8/8 patients) when compared with Parkinson's disease patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Beside significant differences in the clinical features between the Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism, our study showed that baropodometric investigation may a valuable tool for the definition of postural and motor extrapyramidal abnormalities, permitting an earlier differentiation between atypical parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Furnari
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco Salvatore
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Imbesi
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: La Fauci Belponer
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Militi
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gervasi
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pastura
authors.affiliation: All from IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
keywords: Electronic baropodometer instrument; Parkinson’s disease; atypical parkinsonism; gait; postural instability