Rigidity in Parkinson's Disease: The Objective Effect of Levodopa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Quantitative evidence of levodopa-induced beneficial effects on parkinsonian rigidity in Parkinson's disease (PD) is lacking. Recent research has demonstrated the velocity-dependent nature of objective rigidity in PD and revealed its neural underpinning.

Objective

The present study aimed to examine the effect of levodopa on objective rigidity in PD.

Methods

Eighteen patients with PD underwent clinical and instrumental evaluations of muscle tone in the OFF and ON states. The clinical assessments focused on rigidity in the most affected upper limb. The biomechanical components of objective rigidity were assessed using robot-assisted wrist extensions at seven angular velocities (5-280°/s). Surface electromyography of the flexor carpi radialis muscle enabled th

SUBMITTER: Falletti M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12006885 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature