The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activation, kinematics, and force production between individuals with Parkinson's disease and healthy, age-matched participants during sit to stand transfers. Twenty-four men with a mean age of 71.5 yrs. categorized as Parkinson's patients(N=13), and healthy adults(N=11) participated in this study. The trial protocol required participants to rise from a seated to standing position from a standard height of 17 in. and return to a sitting position after 30 sec. Two force platforms, positioned under each foot, measured antero-posterior and vertical force components as well as peak torque moments during each trial. In addition, muscle activation was measured by a six channel, bilateral electromyography(EMG) system and recorded muscle frequency levels at 1000 samples per sec.(Hz). Reflective markers were placed at lower body joint locations and a kinematic assessment was conducted with a Peak Performance motion analysis system. Data collection devices were synchronized and activated upon the initial movement of the participant. A 2X2 factorial analysis of variance was used to test significant differences between groups. Based on the data analysis, no significant differences between groups were apparent(p>.05) for the kinematics, ground reaction forces, and EMG variables. However, further analysis revealed a significant bilateral diffference between right and left legs (p<.05) for the variables of knee angle at seat off and peak vertical force. These results are consistent with the variability of functioning evident in Parkinson's disease and could be a contributor to falls or instabilities seen in advanced stages of the disease. It was concluded that subtle variations may be apparent in the early stages of Parkinson's disease that provide the rationale for interventions that concentrate on the underlying mechanisms of motor control to maintain function and mobility