A KINEMATIC STUDY OF THE REACH TO GRASP MOVEMENT IN A SUBJECT WITH HEMIPARKINSONS DISEASE

The kinematic organization of a reach to grasp movement in a left hemi Parkinson subject is compared to that of a control subject. Subjects u sed the right and left limbs to reach 15, 27 or 40 cm for the grasp of cylinders of 0.7 or 8 cm diameter. In general, the kinematics of the affected limb of the hemiParkinson subject differed from that of the u naffected limb. However, for both arms the hemiParkinson subject showe d a delay in the onset of the manipulation component. The subtle dysfu nction in the activation of near-simultaneous or sequential movements is thus bilateral, despite unilateral clinical symptomatology.