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Review
. 2016 Jul 18;3(6):538-547.
doi: 10.1002/mdc3.12386. eCollection 2016 Nov-Dec.

Postural, Bone, and Joint Disorders in Parkinson's Disease

Marcie L Rabin  1 , Mary Cathryn Earnhardt  1 , Anvi Patel  1 , Ivana Ganihong  1 , Roger Kurlan  1
Affiliations
Review

Postural, Bone, and Joint Disorders in Parkinson's Disease

Marcie L Rabin et al. Mov Disord Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Stooped posture was mentioned in the original description of the characteristic features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Since then, a variety of postural, bone, and joint problems have become recognized as common aspects of the illness and deserve attention.

Methods: A Medline literature search for the period from 1970 to 2016 was performed to identify articles relevant to this topic. Keywords for the search included posture, spine, bone disorders, fractures, joint disorders, kyphosis, scoliosis, stooping, camptocormia, Pisa syndrome, frozen shoulder, anterocollis, dropped head syndrome, and pain in combination with PD. The articles were then reviewed to summarize clinical features, frequency, impact, pathophysiology, and treatment options for these conditions.

Results: Postural disorders (kyphoscoliosis, camptocormia, Pisa syndrome, dropped head syndrome), bone mineralization disorders (osteoporosis, bone fractures), and joint disorders (frozen shoulder, dystonia involving joints, joint pain) are often seen in association with PD. Treatment options for these conditions are varied and may include medications, physical therapy, or surgical interventions.

Conclusions: Posture, bone, and joint disorders are common in patients with PD; they often produce added disability, and they may be treatable.

Keywords: Pisa syndrome; bone mineralization; camptocormia; joint disorders; kyphosis; posture disorders.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Camptocormia. Trunk flexion is most sever in the standing position and resolves when lying supine. Reprinted from: Doherty et al. ©2011 with permission from Elsevier11.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A patient with Pisa syndrome exhibiting substantial lateral flexion to the right side. Adapted from: Tassorelli et al. ©2012 with permission from Wiley.28
Figure 3
Figure 3
Dropped head is characterized by a chin‐on‐chest deformity due to neck flexion, sometimes with minor thoracic or lumbar spinal curvature, that may be correctable by passive neck extension. Reprinted from: Kashihara et al. ©2006 with permission from Wiley.34
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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