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Kinesthesia is impaired in focal dystonia
Author(s) -
Putzki Norman,
Stude Philipp,
Konczak Jürgen,
Graf Karoline,
Diener HansChristoph,
Maschke Matthias
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.20799
Subject(s) - parkinson's disease , pathophysiology , dystonia , focal dystonia , movement disorders , medicine , motor control , degenerative disease , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychology , central nervous system disease , sensory system , neurological disorder , neuroscience , audiology , disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) and focal dystonia (FD) are both predominantly characterized by motor symptoms. Also, recent research has shown that sensory processing is impaired in both movement disorders. FD is characterized by involuntary movements and abnormal limb postures; thus, abnormal kinesthesia could be involved in the pathogenesis. We examined passive index finger movements in patients with FD (n = 12) and PD (n = 11) and in age‐matched healthy controls (n = 13). Compared to healthy controls, patients with PD and FD were significantly impaired in the correct detection of the movement direction. The perceptual thresholds for 75% correct responses of movement direction were 0.21 degrees for FD and 0.28 degrees for PD patients compared to 0.13 degrees in control subjects. Subjects with PD and FD were also significantly impaired when they had to judge consecutive amplitudes. Results of the present study point to impaired kinesthesia in FD. Defective sensory processing could be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease and may influence dystonic contractions. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society