Parkinsonian Balance Deficits Quantified Using a Game Industry Board and a Specific Battery of Four Paradigms.
This study describes a cost-effective screening protocol for parkinsonism based on combined objective and subjective monitoring of balance function. Objective evaluation of balance function was performed using a game industry balance board and an automated analyses of the dynamic of the center of pressure in time, frequency, and non-linear domains collected during short series of stand up tests with different modalities and severity of sensorial deprivation. The subjective measurement of balance function was performed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire. Principal component analyses on both objective and subjective measurements of balance function allowed to obtained a specificity and selectivity for parkinsonian patients (vs. healthy subjects) of 0.67 and 0.71 respectively. The findings are discussed regarding the relevance of cost-effective balance-based screening system as strategy to meet the needs of broader and earlier screening for parkinsonism in communities with limited access to healthcare.
Department of Neurology, University of South AlabamaMobile, AL, USA; Division of System Neurophysiology, National Institute for Physiological SciencesOkazaki, Japan; Animal Resource Program, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham, AL, USA; Vestibular Research, University of South AlabamaMobile, AL, USA.
Olivier
O
Darbin
Vestibular Research, University of South AlabamaMobile, AL, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, University of South AlabamaMobile, AL, USA.
Coral
C
Gubler
Department of Neurology, University of South Alabama Mobile, AL, USA.
Dean
D
Naritoku
Department of Neurology, University of South Alabama Mobile, AL, USA.
Daniel
D
Dees
Department of Neurosurgery, University of South Alabama Mobile, AL, USA.
Anthony
A
Martino
Vestibular Research, University of South AlabamaMobile, AL, USA; Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of South AlabamaMobile, AL, USA.
Elizabeth
E
Adams
center of pressure; dispertion; fall; irregularity; movement disorders; oscillations; self-reported symptoms