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The key role of physical activity against the neuromuscular deterioration in patients with Parkinson's disease
Author(s) -
Martig Camilla,
Ruzzante Federico,
Giuriato Gaia,
Laginestra Fabio G.,
Pedrinolla Anna,
Di Vico Ilaria A.,
Saggin Paolo,
Stefanelli Donato,
Tinazzi Michele,
Schena Federico,
Venturelli Massimo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/apha.13630
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , medicine , turnover , parkinson's disease , energy expenditure , cardiology , calorie , physical activity , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , disease , management , economics
Aim Decreased muscle strength has been frequently observed in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, this condition is still poorly examined in physically active patients. This study compared quadriceps (Q) maximal force and the contribution of central and peripheral components of force production during a maximal isometric task between physically active PD and healthy individuals. In addition, the correlation between force determinants and energy expenditure indices were investigated. Methods Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), resting twitch (RT) force, pennation angle (θp), physiological cross‐sectional area (PCSA) and Q volume were assessed in 10 physically active PD and 10 healthy control (CTRL) individuals matched for age, sex and daily energy expenditure (DEE) profile. Results No significant differences were observed between PD and CTRL in MVC (142 ± 85; 142 ± 47 N m), Q volume (1469 ± 379; 1466 ± 522 cm 3 ), PCSA (206 ± 54; 205 ± 71 cm 2 ), θp (14 ± 7; 13 ± 3 rad) and voluntary muscle‐specific torque (MVC/PCSA [67 ± 35; 66 ± 19 N m cm −2 ]). Daily calories and MVC correlated ( r = 0.56, P = .0099). However, PD displayed lower maximal voluntary activation (MVA) (85 ± 7; 95 ± 5%), rate of torque development (RTD) in the 0‐0.05 (110 ± 70; 447 ± 461 N m s −1 ) and the 0.05‐0.1 s (156 ± 135; 437 ± 371 N m s −1 ) epochs of MVCs, whereas RT normalized for PCSA was higher (35 ± 14; 20 ± 6 N m cm −2 ). Conclusion Physically active PDs show a preserved strength of the lower limb. This resulted by increasing skeletal muscle contractility, which counterbalances neuromuscular deterioration, likely due to their moderate level of physical activity.