Abstract
Aims: Using a limb matching task, the current study investigated the influence of both hand dominance and motor asymmetry on proprioceptive acuity in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: 36 healthy older adults (controls) and 45 PD patients underwent an active contralateral elbow joint position-matching task. The investigator gently assisted (active: participant contracted muscles) one of the participant's arms (reference limb) into one of two angles (50º and 90º). Participants actively matched that position with the contralateral limb, without vision. All participants were right handed and PD patients were separated into two groups according to the limb (upper) that was more affected by disease (more-affected and less-affected limbs) (right-limb affected: n=15; left-limb affected: n=30). Kinematic data was collected on joint position (absolute error). Results: Right-limb affected PD showed more error in the less-affected/non-dominant limb (p <.05). Conversely, left-limb affected PD showed no differences between the more-affected/non-dominant and less-affected/dominant limbs. Controls were more accurate with the dominant limb than the non-dominant limb (p<.05). Few differences were found in between controls and PD. Conclusions: Results suggest that differences exist between right- and left-limb affected PD. This relationship is important to consider for diagnosis of PD and disease management. Hand dominance also influences proprioceptive acuity in healthy older adults.Acknowledgments: Patients at the MDRC; Sun Life Financial; The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; The Canadian Foundation for Innovation.