Journal of Movement Disorders

Original Articles

Muscle Ultrasonography as a Diagnostic Tool for Assessing Sarcopenia in Parkinson’s Disease: Lay San Lim, Cheng-Hsien Lu, Yun-Ru Lai, Na-Ning Kan, Chien-Chang Liao, Sieh Yang Lee; J Mov Disord. 2025;18(4):347-354. Published online August 19, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.14802/jmd.25072

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material: Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of muscle ultrasonography (US) as a diagnostic tool for assessing sarcopenia in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to facilitate early detection and intervention to help prevent falls and enhance quality of life.
Methods
This prospective single-center study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of US for identifying sarcopenia, using the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 criteria as the reference. A total of 85 patients with PD, were recruited between June 2022 and August 2024, consisting of 31 individuals in the sarcopenic group and 54 in the nonsarcopenic group. We compared muscle thickness (MT), cross-sectional area (CSA), and shear wave velocity of the rectus femoris (RF), anterior tibialis (AT), and biceps brachii (BB) between the two groups. Statistical analyses included univariate analysis, correlation analysis, and binary logistic regression to develop a prediction model for sarcopenia.
Results
The sarcopenic group exhibited lower MT_BB, MT_AT, and CSA_AT than the nonsarcopenic group (all p<0.05). MT_BB, CSA_BB, and CSA_AT were significantly correlated with the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index and functional measures (all p<0.05). The prediction model, which included age, body mass index, and MT_BB as predictors, achieved an area under the curve of 0.857, with a sensitivity of 80.6% and a specificity of 79.6%.
Conclusion
US is a reliable and effective diagnostic tool for assessing sarcopenia in patients with PD, providing a practical approach for early identification of this condition.

Shoulder Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: Implications of Motor Subtypes, Disease Severity, and Spinopelvic Alignment: Sieh Yang Lee, Lay San Lim, Yun-Ru Lai, Cheng-Hsien Lu; J Mov Disord. 2025;18(3):213-221. Published online April 8, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.14802/jmd.25032

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Objective
To investigate shoulder function and muscle alterations in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and determine their associations with spinopelvic parameters and clinical status.
Methods
This prospective cohort study included 62 PD patients, divided into postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD) (n=30) and non-PIGD (n=32) groups, as well as 35 controls. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and shoulder muscle stiffness were assessed for each group. Clinical demographics, PD severity, and shoulder-related parameters were extracted and analyzed.
Results
Compared with the control group, the PIGD group had significantly lower total and subscored ASESs (all p<0.05). Compared with the controls, both the PIGD and non-PIGD groups demonstrated reduced abduction and forward flexion (all p<0.05). Compared with the non-PIGD group and the control group, the PIGD group also presented decreased external rotation (all p<0.05). Infraspinatus muscle stiffness was greater in the PIGD group than in the control group (p=0.012). Correlation analysis revealed that shoulder condition was significantly associated with PD severity and the PIGD score, whereas muscle stiffness was linked to spinopelvic alignment and the PIGD score. Various clinical factors, including PD severity, the PIGD score, the tremor score, and spinopelvic alignment, were significantly correlated with shoulder ROM.
Conclusion
PD patients experience shoulder dysfunction in various ways, including decreased ASES scores, limited ROM, and increased shoulder muscle stiffness. Our study highlighted the impact of PD motor subtype, disease severity, and spinopelvic alignment on the development of shoulder dysfunction, offering deeper insights into the pathophysiological basis of shoulder disorders in PD.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Efficacy of Suprascapular Nerve Block and Pulsed Radiofrequency for Chronic Shoulder Pain in Parkinson’s Disease
Atak Karabacak, Tuğçe Gezer Karabacak, Banu Özen Barut, Massimiliano Valeriani
Pain Research and Management.2026;[Epub] CrossRef

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