Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40038703›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2025

Abnormal arm swing movements in Parkinson's disease: onset, progression and response to L-Dopa.

M Patera, A Zampogna, L Pietrosanti, F Asci, M Falletti, G Pinola, E Bianchini, G Di Lazzaro, V Rosati, P Grillo and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Walking as a Window to the Brain: Redefining Gait in Neurology.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

M Patera *Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
A Zampogna *Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
L Pietrosanti *Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
F AsciDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
M FallettiDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
G PinolaDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
E BianchiniDepartment of Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Sensory Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
G Di LazzaroFondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
V RosatiDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
P GrilloDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
F GianniniDepartment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
F FattappostaDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
G CostantiniDepartment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
A PisaniDepartment of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
G SaggioDepartment of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Antonio SuppaDepartment of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy. antonio.suppa@uniroma1.it.

Funding

PNNR Europe PNRR-MR1-2022-12376921, Next Generation EU - PNRR M6C2
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundReduced arm swing movements during gait are an early motor manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD). The clinical evolution, response to L-Dopa and pathophysiological underpinning of abnormal arm swing movements in PD remain largely unclear. By using a network of wearable sensors, this study objectively assesses arm swing movements during gait in PD patients across different disease stages and therapeutic conditions.

methodsTwenty healthy subjects (HS) and 40 PD patients, including 20 early-stage and 20 mid-advanced subjects, underwent a 6-m Timed Up and Go test while monitored through a network of wearable inertial sensors. Arm swing movements were objectively evaluated in both hemibodies and different upper limb joints (shoulder and elbow), using specific time-domain (range of motion and velocity) and frequency-domain measures (harmonics and total harmonic distortion). To assess the effects of L-Dopa, patients under chronic dopaminergic therapy were randomly examined when OFF and ON therapy. Finally, clinical-behavioral correlations were investigated, primarily focusing on the relationship between arm swing movements and cardinal L-Dopa-responsive motor signs, including bradykinesia and rigidity.

resultsCompared to HS, the whole group of PD patients showed reduced range of motion and velocity, alongside increased asymmetry of arm swing movements during gait. Additionally, a distinct increase in total harmonic distortion was found in patients. The kinematic changes were prominent in the early stage of the disease and progressively worsened owing to the involvement of the less affected hemibody. The time- and frequency-domain abnormalities were comparable in the two joints (i.e., shoulder and elbow). In the subgroup of patients under chronic dopaminergic treatment, L-Dopa restored patterns of arm swing movements. Finally, the kinematic alterations in arm swing movements during gait correlated with the clinical severity of bradykinesia and rigidity.

conclusionsArm swing movements during gait in PD are characterized by narrow, slow, and irregular patterns. As the disease progresses, arm swing movements deteriorate also in the less affected hemibody, without any joint specificity. The positive response to L-Dopa along with the significant correlation between kinematics and bradykinesia/rigidity scores points to the involvement of dopaminergic pathways in the pathophysiology of abnormal arm swing movements in PD.

Indexed as

Antiparkinson AgentsArmLevodopaParkinson DiseaseAgedBiomechanical PhenomenaDisease ProgressionFemaleGaitHumansHypokinesiaMaleMiddle AgedMovementRange of Motion, ArticularWearable Electronic DevicesAntiparkinson AgentsLevodopaArm swingBradykinesiaParkinson’s diseaseRigidityWearable sensors

Identifiers

PMID40038703
PMCPMC11877831

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.