Balance Control in People with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Adequate postural control is fundamental to performing the activities of daily living appropriately and safely. Postural control is a complex system based on the interaction of sensorimotor dynamic processes which have two main functional goals (i.e., postural orientation and equilibrium). Deficits in postural control increase the risk of falls, which is exacerbated by the presence of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). The loss of dopaminergic neurons in basal ganglia, characterized by PD, affects the functionality of several cortical and subcortical structures involved in postural control, increasing postural instability. People with PD demonstrate impairments in postural control during standing, dynamic conditions (e.g., walking), and postural responses to external perturbation. These impairments increase the risk of falls in people with PD and some of them are less responsive to PD medication. Thus, complementary therapies to improve postural control in PD have been explored. This chapter aims to describe postural control in people with PD and present some evidence regarding the effects of complementary therapies for balance rehabilitation in this population.