Article

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a relatively common and remarkably
disabling impairment associated with Parkinson disease (PD). Laboratory-based
measures indicate that individuals with FOG (PD+FOG) have greater balance
deficits than those without FOG (PD-FOG). Whether such differences also can be
detected using clinical balance tests has not been investigated. We sought to
determine if balance and specific aspects of balance, measured using Balance
Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), differs between PD+FOG and PD-FOG.
Furthermore, we aimed to determine if time-efficient clinical balance measures
(i.e. Mini-BESTest, Berg Balance Scale (BBS)) could detect balance differences
between PD+FOG and PD-FOG. METHODS: Balance of 78 individuals with PD, grouped as
either PD+FOG (n=32) or PD-FOG (n=46), was measured using the BESTest,
Mini-BESTest, and BBS. Between-groups comparisons were conducted for these
measures and for the six sections of the BESTest using analysis of covariance. A
PD composite score was used as a covariate. RESULTS: Controlling for motor sign
severity, PD duration, and age, PD+FOG had worse balance than PD-FOG when
measured using the BESTest (p=0.008, F=7.35) and Mini-BESTest (p=0.002, F=10.37),
but not the BBS (p=0.27, F=1.26). BESTest section differences were noted between
PD+FOG and PD-FOG for reactive postural responses (p<0.001, F=14.42) and
stability in gait (p=0.003, F=9.18). CONCLUSIONS: The BESTest and Mini-BESTest,
which specifically assessed reactive postural responses and stability in gait,
were more likely than the BBS to detect differences in balance between PD+FOG and
PD-FOG. Because it is more time efficient to administer, the Mini-BESTest may be
the preferred tool for assessing balance deficits associated with FOG.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS