Prediction of instability in people with Parkinson’s disease - clinical balance and gait tests.
(2013) International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, 2013 In [Publication information missing] 28(S1). p.163-163- Abstract
- Objective: To explore whether clinical balance and gait tests can predict instability (falls and/or near falls) in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background: Current PD-studies suggest that multiple balance tests should be used in order to predict falls. However, few studies have included near falls when investigating falls prospectively as recommended.
Methods: The study included 74 people with PD (mean age and PD-duration, 69 and 4.9 years, respectively) visiting a neurological clinic during 2006-2010. Those >80 years of age, requiring support in standing or did not understand the instructions were excluded. Assessments included: the Berg Balance Scale (BBS, 0-56 points), Nutt’s Retropulsion test (NRT, dichotomized;... (More) - Objective: To explore whether clinical balance and gait tests can predict instability (falls and/or near falls) in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background: Current PD-studies suggest that multiple balance tests should be used in order to predict falls. However, few studies have included near falls when investigating falls prospectively as recommended.
Methods: The study included 74 people with PD (mean age and PD-duration, 69 and 4.9 years, respectively) visiting a neurological clinic during 2006-2010. Those >80 years of age, requiring support in standing or did not understand the instructions were excluded. Assessments included: the Berg Balance Scale (BBS, 0-56 points), Nutt’s Retropulsion test (NRT, dichotomized; 0=”normal”, 1=“abnormal”), tandem gait test (TG, dichotomized; 0=”normal”, 1= “abnormal”), 10-meter walk test (fast speed, m/s), and Timed Up & Go test (TUG, s). All assessments were conducted in the “on” condition. Participants then registered all falls and near falls by using a diary for six months.
Results: Mean score for UPDRS III was 14 (SD 7.5). Thirty-six participants (49 %) experienced ≥1 fall and/or near fall (“unstable” group), whereas 38 (51 %) had no incidents at all (“stable” group). Simple logistic regression analyses (controlling for age and gender) showed that (P≤0.05 in all instances) the NRT was the strongest predictor (OR=5.70) followed by TG (OR=3.45). Better BBS-scores (OR=0.88) and gait speed (OR=0.26) were associated with a decreased risk of instability. The longer time to perform TUG, the higher risk of being unstable (OR=1.14). When considering all five variables (i.e. tests) simultaneously only BBS was found significant (OR=0.91, P=0.04).
Conclusions: Clinical balance and gait tests can predict a future instability in people with PD. Further studies using larger samples are needed for firmer conclusions and to establish sensitivity/specificity and cut-off values for these tests.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3990781
- author
- Lindholm, Beata LU ; Hansson, Oskar LU ; Hagell, Peter LU and Nilsson, Maria H LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2013
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- [Publication information missing]
- volume
- 28(S1)
- pages
- 163 - 163
- conference name
- International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, 2013
- conference location
- Sydney, Australia
- conference dates
- 2013-06-16 - 2013-06-20
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 11eef703-a6c3-4e4c-a817-4e63cbd74046 (old id 3990781)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 09:58:28
- date last changed
- 2022-11-01 18:39:09
@misc{11eef703-a6c3-4e4c-a817-4e63cbd74046, abstract = {{Objective: To explore whether clinical balance and gait tests can predict instability (falls and/or near falls) in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).<br/>Background: Current PD-studies suggest that multiple balance tests should be used in order to predict falls. However, few studies have included near falls when investigating falls prospectively as recommended.<br/>Methods: The study included 74 people with PD (mean age and PD-duration, 69 and 4.9 years, respectively) visiting a neurological clinic during 2006-2010. Those >80 years of age, requiring support in standing or did not understand the instructions were excluded. Assessments included: the Berg Balance Scale (BBS, 0-56 points), Nutt’s Retropulsion test (NRT, dichotomized; 0=”normal”, 1=“abnormal”), tandem gait test (TG, dichotomized; 0=”normal”, 1= “abnormal”), 10-meter walk test (fast speed, m/s), and Timed Up & Go test (TUG, s). All assessments were conducted in the “on” condition. Participants then registered all falls and near falls by using a diary for six months.<br/>Results: Mean score for UPDRS III was 14 (SD 7.5). Thirty-six participants (49 %) experienced ≥1 fall and/or near fall (“unstable” group), whereas 38 (51 %) had no incidents at all (“stable” group). Simple logistic regression analyses (controlling for age and gender) showed that (P≤0.05 in all instances) the NRT was the strongest predictor (OR=5.70) followed by TG (OR=3.45). Better BBS-scores (OR=0.88) and gait speed (OR=0.26) were associated with a decreased risk of instability. The longer time to perform TUG, the higher risk of being unstable (OR=1.14). When considering all five variables (i.e. tests) simultaneously only BBS was found significant (OR=0.91, P=0.04).<br/>Conclusions: Clinical balance and gait tests can predict a future instability in people with PD. Further studies using larger samples are needed for firmer conclusions and to establish sensitivity/specificity and cut-off values for these tests.<br/><br/><br/>}}, author = {{Lindholm, Beata and Hansson, Oskar and Hagell, Peter and Nilsson, Maria H}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Conference Abstract}}, pages = {{163--163}}, series = {{[Publication information missing]}}, title = {{Prediction of instability in people with Parkinson’s disease - clinical balance and gait tests.}}, volume = {{28(S1)}}, year = {{2013}}, }