Bissolotti, LucianoRota, MatteoCalza, StefanoRomero Morales, CarlosAlonso Pérez, José LuisLópez Bueno, RubénVillafañe, Jorge Hugo2024-09-112024-09-112024Bissolotti, L., Rota, M., Calza, S., Romero-Morales, C., Alonso-Pérez, J. L., López-Bueno, R., & Villafañe, J. H. (2024). Gender-specific differences in spinal alignment and muscle power in patients with parkinson’s disease. Diagnostics, 14(11), 1143. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics141111432075-4418http://hdl.handle.net/11268/13034Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an advancing neurodegenerative disorder characterized by spinal anomalies and muscular weakness, which may restrict daily functional capacities. A gender-focused examination of these effects could provide valuable insights into customized rehabilitation strategies for both sexes. Purpose: This study investigates the influence of spinal alignment on lower-limb function during the sit-to-stand (STS) movement in patients with Parkinson’s disease compared to healthy individuals. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 43 consecutive patients with PD (25 males and 18 females; average age 73.7 ± 7.1 years) and 42 healthy controls (22 males and 20 females; average age 69.8 ± 6.0 years). Assessments included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Hoehn and Yahr staging, and measurements of vertical deviations from several spinal landmarks. Lower-limb muscle power during the STS task was evaluated using the Muscle Quality Index (MQI). Results: Both absolute (Watts) and relative (Watts/Kg) muscle power in the lower limbs were notably decreased in the PD group compared to the control group. Within the PD cohort, muscle power showed a negative relationship with age and a positive association with the degree of lumbar lordosis (PL-L3). Importantly, gender-specific analysis revealed that male patients with PD had significantly higher lower-limb muscle power compared to female patients with PD, highlighting the need for gender-tailored therapeutic approaches. Conclusions: The findings suggest that preserving lumbar lordosis is crucial for maintaining effective lower-limb muscle biomechanics in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.engAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/journal articleopen accessEnfermedad del sistema nerviosoInvestigación médicaTratamiento médicoGoal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all agesGoal 4: Quality education