Influence of general heating of the organism on muscle fatigue in the Parkinson disease patients

Muscle fatigue and recovery was investigated in the Parkinson’s disease patients (PD, n = 42, age 56- 65 years) under general exposure to heating (40 °C, 60 min, off-therapy state), under anti-PD therapy (Nacom, Cyclodol, Bromocriptin; 3-12 months, thermoneutral condition), and under combined effect of anti- PD therapy and heating using electromyographical (EMG) and biomechanical parameters, in comparison with age-matched reference group (n = 12). In heating condition (off-therapy) muscular rigidity has decreased and tolerance to exercise has increased, that was similar to the effect of anti-PD therapy in thermoneutral condition. Combined effect of heating and anti-PD therapy (on-therapy state), according to biomechanical parameters (number of contractions to exhaustion, time of exercise, maximal voluntary contraction, rhythm of contraction) was greater than during isolated application of heating or anti-PD therapy. Thus, heating the organism of PD patients may be recommended to reinforce positive action of anti-PD therapy. Similarly, EMG characteristics during muscle fatigue and recovery may be used as a method for evaluation of functional state of muscle and improved diagnosis of PD.