Amplitude of Lower Limb Muscle Activation in Different Phases of the Illinois Test in Parkinson’s Disease Patients: A Pilot Study

The article provides a detailed overview of the study on patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their muscle activation during the Illinois Agility Test (IAT), aiming to assess the differences between PD patients and healthy individuals. The results show that PD patients take longer to complete the test, especially during the sit-to-stand phases. Additionally, PD patients exhibit lower muscle activation compared to healthy controls, particularly in the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles, compromising movement quality and increasing the risk of falls.

Regarding the future and the role of the Equistasi® device, the article highlights that Equistasi®, which provides focal proprioceptive stimulation, could be a promising option to improve overall activation and postural control in PD patients. This is supported by previous studies showing that the use of Equistasi® can positively affect posture and balance stability, leading to functional improvements in patients with Parkinson’s symptoms. This suggests that Equistasi® could represent a future direction for motor rehabilitation.