Amplitude of lower limb muscle activation in different phases of the Illinois Test in Parkinson's Disease patients: a pilot study.

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with high preva- lence in men and is characterized by symptoms such as tremors and gait difficulties. This study aimed to determine muscle activation in patients with PD by considering sex differences. Methods: This pilot study used analytical, quantitative, observational, and case-control methods. Surface electromyography was used to assess muscle activity during a variant of the Illinois agility test. The study population comprised an experimental group of patients with PD (N = 30) and a control group of healthy individuals without the disease (N = 10). Results: The Illinois agility test revealed significant differences in completion times between the groups. The Parkinson’s disease group took longer overall (p = 0.004), especially for standing up (p < 0.001) and sitting down (p = 0.002), than the control group. In the control group, sex influenced gastrocnemius muscle activation, with women showing higher activation (rs = −0.87). Women also had greater rectus femoris activation during standing and sitting, with higher activation on the right side when standing (rs = −0.66) and the left side when sitting (rs = −0.87). In the control group, men exhibited greater activation of the right biceps femoris (rs = 0.87). However, in the Parkinson’s disease group, sex did not affect muscle activation. Conclusions: Patients with Parkinson’s showed lower muscle activation than healthy individuals while standing up, sitting down, and walking.