title: Postural control in Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postural instability is one of the most disabling features of Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate postural balance in Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with Parkinson's disease were compared with controls using Tetrax™ interactive balance system posturography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For different positions, patients with Parkinson's disease showed a significantly higher weight distribution index, fall index, Fourier transformation at low-medium frequencies (F2-F4), and significantly lower right/left and toe/heel synchronization versus controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postural imbalance in Parkinson's disease patients is characterized by the abnormalities of weight distribution index, synchronization index, Fourier transformation index, and fall index as measured by Tetrax™ posturography.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Human Communication Disorders, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: jackeline_fukunaga@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Jackeline Yumi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Human Communication Disorders, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafaela Maia
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Quitschal
authors.affiliation: Masters' Program in Rehabilitation of Body Equilibrium and of Social Inclusion, Universidade Bandeirante de São Paulo (UNIBAN), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doná
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorder Unit, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Henrique Ballalai
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ferraz
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maurício Malavasi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ganança
authors.affiliation: Division of Otology and Otoneurology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloísa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Caovilla
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Doença de Parkinson; Equilíbrio postural; Parkinson disease; Postural balance; Testes de função vestibular; Vestibular function tests