Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Prediction of instability in people with Parkinson’s disease - clinical balance and gait tests.

Lindholm, Beata LU ; Hansson, Oskar LU orcid ; Hagell, Peter LU and Nilsson, Maria H LU orcid (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:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
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 &gt;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 &amp; 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}},
}