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Abstract
Introduction
Lateral trunk flexion (LTF) is a common postural deformity in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Postural control is known to depend on visual, vestibular, and somatosensory information.
Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between vestibular dysfunction and postural abnormalities in PD patients with LTF.
Methods
We enrolled a total of 19 PD patients with LTF (PD-LTF+) and 19 age- and sex-matched PD patients without LTF (PD-LTF-). All patients underwent vestibular tests, including spontaneous nystagmus, gaze-evoked nystagmus, ocular movements, optokinetic eye test, fast positioning maneuvers, and the bithermal caloric test.
Results
Most of the PD-LTF + patients had abnormal vestibular function (11/19), while there were fewer vestibular function injuries in the control group (3/19). In PD-LTF + group, there were 5 patients (5/11, 45.5%) of peripheral vestibular dysfunction, 2 patients (2/11, 18.2%) of central vestibular damage, and 4 patients (4/11, 36.4%) of mixed injuries. The peripheral vestibular deficiencies could be either bilateral (4/9, 44.4%) or unilateral (5/9, 55.6%). The unilateral vestibular dysfunction was ipsilateral to the leaning side in 2 patients and contralateral to the leaning side in the other 3 patients.
Conclusion
Vestibular dysfunction may be an independent risk factor for LTF in PD patients.
Acknowledgements
We thank the patients for participating in this study.
Author contributions
HYT and WL contributed to study concept and design; HYT contributed to drafting of the manuscript; YC, ZDC and WL contributed to critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; DNL, YT and ZYOY contributed to enrolling patients.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).