Postural Abnormality in Parkinson's Disease: A Large Comparative Study With General Population

Background Postural abnormalities in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and unimpaired elderly are not well differentiated. Factors related to postural abnormality associated with PD are controversial. Objective We assessed differences in postural change between PD patients and unimpaired elderly and elucidated factors related to abnormal posture in PD patients. Methods We measured the dropped head angle (DHA), anterior flexion angle (AFA), and lateral flexion angle (LFA) of the thoracolumbar spine of an unprecedented 1,117 PD patients and 2,732 general population participants (GPPs) using digital photographs. Two statistical analyses were used for elucidating factors related to these angles. Results In GPPs, age was correlated with DHA, AFA, and LFA. DHAs, AFAs, and LFAs of PD patients and age-matched GPPs were 21.70 degrees +/- 14.40 degrees and 13.13 degrees +/- 10.79 degrees, 5.98 degrees +/- 12.67,degrees and - 3.82 degrees +/- 4.04 degrees, and 0.86 degrees +/- 4.25 degrees and 1.33 degrees +/- 2.16 degrees, respectively. In PD patients, factors related to DHA were age, male sex, and H & Y stage during ON time. Factors related to AFA were age, duration of disease, H & Y stage during ON and OFF times, pain, vertebral disease, and bending to the right. A factor related to LFA was AFA. Conclusions DHA and AFA of GGPs correlated with age and were larger in PD patients than those with in GPPs. Some PD patients showed angles far beyond the normal distribution. Thus, factors associated with disease aggravation affected postural abnormality in PD patients.