Impaired Reach-to-Grasp Actions during Barrier
Avoidance in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
Suweena Khacharoen MS*, Jarugool Tretriluxana PhD*,
Pakaratee Chaiyawat PhD*, Apichart Pisarnpong MD**
Affiliation :
* Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
** Movement Disorder Clinic, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital,
Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the kinematics and coordination while performing reach-to-grasp (RTG) actions under barrier
avoidance condition in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Material and Method: Right handed idiopathic PDs (Hoehn and Yahr stage 2-3) (n = 20) and age-matched controls
(n = 10) without dementia and psychological impairment were recruited. They were asked to perform RTG “as soon as you
see the light and as fast as you can” with their right hands under barrier condition. The RTG performance were assessed
in three domains, planning, execution (or kinematics), and coordination. The planning was measured by reaction time. The
kinematics variables were movement time, maximum velocity, time to maximum velocity, deceleration time, maximum
aperture, time to maximum aperture, aperture closure time, and aperture closure distance. The coordination was assessed
using a cross correlation analysis between transport velocity and aperture size, which consisted of maximal correlation
coefficient (rmax ) and associated time lag (Tmax ).
Results : Compared to the controls, the PD group had delayed planning. In execution domain, they showed decreased
maximum velocity, smaller amplitude of maximum aperture, and prolonged all raw times comparing to controls. When
considering the coordination, they had only prolonged Tmax than controls.
Conclusion : PD participants with mild to moderate impairment showed poorer RTG planning, execution, and coordination
during barrier avoidance when compared to age-matched controls.
Keywords : Reach to grasp, Parkinson’s disease, Barrier task, Manual coordination
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