Strategy for Daily Activity Improvement in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Three Dimensional Motion Analysis of Daily Activities With Functional Insole in Parkinsonian Patients

The symptoms and signs of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) include bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor and poor sensory integration, which result in mobility disability. Present integrated research project tries to investigate the effects of different physical therapy interventions on daily activities in patients with PD. This integrated research project includes 3 subprojects as follows. The title of Subproject 1 is "Three dimensional motion analysis of daily activities with functional insole in Parkinsonian patients". The title of Subproject 2 is "Immediate and long-term effects of novel plantar mechanical device on postural control in standing and gait performance in people with Parkinson's disease". The title of Subproject 3 is "Upper extremity hand function and coordination during functional movement in patients with Parkinson's disease".

This multidisciplinary research project collaborates with Department of Physical Therapy, and Department of Medicine in Tzu Chi University. Furthermore, this integrated study also works with Department of Neurology, Department of Neurosurgery, as well as Department of Rehabilitation in Tzu Chi Hospital to improve the mobility in patients with PD.

This is a three-year integrated project, and the common purposes of this project in each are as follows. In the first year, it is to compare the daily functional difference between the healthy and the Parkinsonian patients. In the second year, it is to examine the immediate and short-term effects of different interventions on daily activities in Parkinsonian patients.The third year is for upper extremity functional assessment.

In the first year, it is to compare the functional difference of biomechanics and motor control between the healthy and the Parkinsonian patients. In the second year, it is to examine the immediate and short-term effects of functional foot insole and the kinetic training on daily activities in Parkinsonian patients. In the third year, it is to examine the hand tremor during drawing, and the coordination during reaching in Parkinsonian patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stage II~IV of Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinson's Disease and normal subjects, whose age between 40~75.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Brain injury or hemorrhage, including stroke, etc.