Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent movement disorder that affects almost 1 million people in the US. The gradual loss of dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra results in progressive motor and non-motor symptoms that significantly impact quality of life. Cardinal motor symptoms include tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and gait and balance impairments. The PD biomechanics study will investigate the biomechanics of various functional tasks.
This study will characterize and compare gait, posture, balance, functional task performance, and pain between healthy older adults and participants with PD, with and without mood disturbances. Findings will elucidate the effect of PD impairments on motor functions, as well as the relationship between non-motor symptoms and functional limitations in individuals with PD.
Project Lead: Lori Quinn Jehan Alomar
Project Members: