Testing Functional Performance in People With Parkinson Disease

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Although the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is the most common performance measure for people with Parkinson disease (PD), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Forward Functional Reach Test (FFR), Backward Functional Reach Test (BFR), Timed “Up & Go” Test (TUG), and gait speed may be used to quantify some aspects of functional performance not measured by the UPDRS. The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship among a set of tests of balance, walking performance, and mobility in people with PD. Subjects. Twenty-five community-dwelling adults (11 female, 14 male) with a diagnosis of PD were recruited from PD support groups in southeastern Wisconsin and consented to participate in the study. The mean age of the participants was 76 years (SD=7). The average Hoehn and Yahr Stage Scale score was 2. Methods. Functional abilities of each subject were assessed with the UPDRS, BBS, FFR, BFR, TUG, and gait speed. Spearman and Pearson correlations were performed. Results. The UPDRS total score was correlated with the BBS (r =−.64, P<.001), FFR (r =−.52, P<.05), and TUG (r =.50, P<.05) measurements. The BBS is the only test of functional performance where scores correlate with all other functional tests and the UPDRS. Discussion and Conclusions. The UPDRS total score may not reflect a comprehensive measure of mobility in people with PD. Because the BBS scores correlate both with UPDRS scores and with scores of all other tests of functional performance, the BBS appears to be a good overall measure of function in this population.

Mobility and balance in Parkinson’s disease: a population‐based study

“…The test has also revealed differences in performance between PD patients and healthy elderly subjects, and between PD patients in different phases of clinical fluctuation [28]. Supporting the results of Brusse et al [29], we found a high correlation between the TUGtest score and the UPDRS total score, motor and ADL subscores and the ÔbradykinesiaÕ score. Our results show a trend towards a worse performance in the TUG test and even more apparent difference in the walking speed between the fallers and non-fallers.…”

<p>Progressive Resistance Training Improves Bradykinesia, Motor Symptoms and Functional Performance in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease</p>

“…Patients diagnosed with PD according to Parkinson's UK Brain Bank criteria 43 and Hoehn & Yahr stage 1-3 44 were recruited from the local health system. Volunteers enrolled in the study underwent neurologist evaluation to ensure PD diagnosis and to confirm the disease stage.…”

Factors Predicting Falls in Parkinson’s Disease: Investigation of Motor, Non-motor Findings and Different Dual Task Activities

“…Değerlendirme, 2. metrede bulunan çizgiyi aşan ilk adımdan itibaren başlamakta ve 8. metreyi aşan ilk adımda bitirilmektedir. Sonuç metre/saniye (m/ sn) şeklinde kaydedilmektedir (33,34).…”