Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of gait speed for community
walking in Parkinson's disease and to develop a multivariate prediction model for
community walking. DESIGN: Data from baseline assessments in a randomized
clinical trial were used.
Subjects: A total of 153 patients with Parkinson's
disease were included. METHODS: Community walking was evaluated using the
mobility domain of the Nottingham extended activities of daily living index
(NEAI). Patients who scored 3 points on item 1 ("Did you walk around outside ?") and item 5 ("Did you cross roads ?") were considered community walkers. Gait speed
was measured with the 6-m or 10-m timed walking test.
Age, gender, marital
status, disease duration, disease severity, motor impairment, balance, freezing
of gait, fear of falling, previous falls, cognitive function, executive function,
fatigue, anxiety and depression were investigated for their contribution to the
multivariate model. RESULTS: Seventy patients (46%) were classified as community
walkers. A gait speed of 0.88 m/s correctly predicted 70% of patients as
community walkers. The multivariate model, including gait speed and fear of
falling, correctly predicted 78% of patients as community walkers. CONCLUSION:
Timed walking tests are valid measurements to predict community walking in
Parkinson's disease. However, evaluation of community walking should include an
assessment of fear of falling.

Langue : ANGLAIS