DOI: 10.52403/ijhsr.20240442 ISSN: 2249-9571

Enhancing Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease: A Comprehensive Review of the Efficacy of Tremor Suppression Orthoses

Yashika Kumar, Gouri Sharma
  • General Medicine

Introduction: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system, significantly impacting daily life through symptoms such as shuffling gait, reduced arm swing, and poor posture. With prevalence increasing in individuals over 65, managing Parkinson’s disease symptoms through medications, surgery, and rehabilitation is crucial. This study focuses on orthotic interventions aimed at improving gait and enhancing quality of life in Parkinson’s disease patients, particularly addressing compromised proprioception and movement perception believed to contribute to Parkinson’s disease motor impairments. The objective is to synthesize existing research on the efficacy of tremor suppression orthoses in Parkinson’s disease care. Aim: This study aims to critically review the literature assessing the effects of tremor suppression orthosis on Parkinson’s disease patients, with a focus on comfort, efficacy, and impact on motor symptoms. Method: An in-depth review of the literature was carried out using common criteria for comfort and efficacy. This paper analyses around 15 articles from 2015 to 2022 and this study analyzed a number of publications (PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, ProQuest) that used tremor suppressing orthosis in conjunction with several targeted areas (spinal region, upper limb, and lower limb) by using the keywords Parkinson’s disease, orthosis, vibration, tremor. Out of 25 articles initially identified, 15 articles were included. Results: The review highlights that biofeedback vibrations through orthoses can suppress tremors in Parkinson’s disease patients. Additionally, it was observed that targeted instructions or stimulation could enhance patients' attentiveness and coordination. External sensory signals provided by orthoses might serve as triggers to facilitate movement sequence transitions. Vibration-based orthoses, applied to specific anatomical regions, showed promise in improving tremor suppression, balance, bradykinesia, and gait freezing. Discussion & Conclusion: The analysis concludes that vibration orthoses significantly enhance balance and consciousness in Parkinson’s disease patients, showing potential in treating tremor suppression and gait abnormalities, thereby improving function and quality of life. However, the study underscores the need for more experimental research with longer durations and follow-ups to fully validate these findings. The current body of evidence, while promising, is limited, highlighting the necessity for further investigations to substantiate the efficacy of tremor suppression orthoses in Parkinson’s disease care. Key words: Parkinson’s Disease, Orthosis, Vibration, Tremor Suppression.

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