Article

Rigidity is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). There are
few studies that have assessed rigidity with objective tools in PD patients.
This study aimed to develop an objective measurement to quantify trunk
rigidity in PD patients with a technology device and to investigate the
relationship between this objective assessment and to examine its relationship
with disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr staging score and the Unified Parkinson's
Disease Rating Scale III) disease duration, functional status (Schwab & England
activities of daily living scale) and health related quality of life (European
Quality of Life-5 Dimensions and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 items) in
patients with mild to moderate PD. METHODS: An isokinetic dynamometer Biodex
System 3 was employed to assess trunk rigidity in 36 PD patients. Passive trunk
flexion and extension at 3 angular velocities, 30 degrees /s, 45 degrees /s and
60 degrees /s were applied and resistive torques were recorded as trunk flexor
and extensors rigidity. RESULTS: Significant correlations between trunk
flexors-extensors tone and clinical status, disease duration and functional
status at 30 degrees /s, 45 degrees /s and 60 degrees /s were obtained. No
correlations were found among trunk muscle tone assessed with the isokinetic
dynamometer and the EuroQoL-5D. Trunk rigidity was correlated with the HRQoL
assessed with the mobility, cognition and stigma PDQ-39 domains and the total
PDQ-39 scores. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the 30 degrees /s, 45 degrees
/s and 60 degrees /s angular velocities of this objective technology method were
a valid assessment for trunk rigidity and were correlated with disease severity,
disease duration, functional status and HRQoL in PD patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS