Parkinson's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Parkinson's Disease, including details on symptoms, treatment, genetics, medication.

Differential pattern of hand-tapping compromise in vascular versus idiopathic parkinsonism: a study based on computerized movement analysis.

Bäzner H, Schanz J, Blahak C, Grips E, Wöhrle JC, Hennerici M

Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. baezner@neuro.ma.uni-heidelberg.de

We tested the characteristics and the differential pattern of upper extremity motor compromise, comparing hand tapping in patients with subcortical vascular encephalopathy (SVE; n = 18), idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD; n = 18), and in healthy controls (n = 18). Both patient groups showed significant compromise in hand tapping compared with that in controls, with higher coefficients of variability (CV) regarding tapping amplitude and angular velocity, determined using a computerized movement analysis system. A differential tapping pattern in both patient groups could be demonstrated in that patients with PD showed lower tapping amplitudes than patients with SVE. Both patient groups displayed abnormalities in tapping rhythmicity compared with that in the control group.

Published 13 April 2005 in Mov Disord, 20(4): 504-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Parkinson's Disease Research Today. All Rights Reserved.