[Quantitative measurement of muscle tone in patients with Parkinsonism before and during therapy with madopar (author's transl)].

Muscle tone at rest and during passive movement was measured in 13 patients with Parkinsonism before and during Madopar therapy. We used the method of kommutative therapy with additional therapy. Data were obtained by myointegration using surface electrodes on the musc. biceps brachii. As already communicated earlier for measurements during passive movements, we could now also state a significant decrease of rigidity at rest during therapy with Madopar. The rigidity improved by 77,5% after an average duration of treatment of 6,25 months and by 84,8% after 25,7 months. There was a proportional dependence between the degree of rigidity at rest and rigidity during passive movements before therapy. Beyond that the decrease for both types of rigidity was approximately similar during therapy. Furthermore possible pathophysiological sources and correlations of alterations of muscle tone in man are discussed.