Studies on induced exacerbation of Parkinsonian rigidity: The effect of contralateral voluntary activity

Abstract

Recentincreasing interest insurgery ofthebasal ganglia fortremorandrigidity inParkinsonism wouldseemtowarrant morecritical measures for evaluating these symptoms, notonlyforthepurpose ofassessing surgical results butalsotoelucidate the underlying neurological mechanisms. Parkinsonian symptoms, especially rigidity and tremor, are frequently unstable andmayvarywiththepatient's environment, emotion, stress, andmany other factors. Consequently, aclinical evaluation ofthese symptoms should bemadewithamethod which can yield relatively reliable values aswellasreveal the variability ofthesymptomineachpatient. Inourclinic Parkinsonian patients havebeen examined routinely withdifferent methods ofreinforcement toinduce accentuation ofrigidity and tremor orother symptoms. Itwasempirically concluded thatactive movementofthecontralateral limbs isasimple andrevealing methodtoelicit or exaggerate Parkinsonian rigidity. Thepurpose ofthis paperistoreport aclinical andelectromyographic study ofParkinsonian rigidity thusaugmented. METHOD