Falling risk factors in Parkinson's disease

Issue title: Rehabilitation and Neurologic Repair in Parkinson's Disease

Guest editors: Ronald T. Seelx and David X. Cifuy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Robinson, Keith^a | Dennison, Andrew^g | Roalf, David^c | Noorigian, Joseph^e | Cianci, Heather^f | Bunting-Perry, Lisette^{b; *} | Moberg, Paul^c | Kleiner-Fisman, Galit^d | Martine, Rebecca^b | Duda, John^d | Jaggi, Jurg^d | Stern, Matthew^d

Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA | [b] Parkinson's Disease Research, Education, and Clinical Center (PADRECC), Philadelphia Veterans' Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC), Philadelphia, PA, USA | [c] Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA | [d] Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA | [e] School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA | [f] Dan Aaron Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation Center, Penn Neurological Institute, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA | [g] University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA | [x] Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA. Tel.: +1 404 367 1240; Fax: +1 404 350 3081; E-mail: ron_seal@shepherd.org | [y] Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980661, 1223 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23298-0661, USA. E-mail: dcifu@hsc.vcu.edu

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Lisette Bunting-Perry, MScN, RN, Philadelphia Veterans' Administration Medical Center, Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center, University and Woodland Avenues, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Tel.: +1 215 823 5934; E-mail: Lisette.Bunting-Perry@med.va.gov

Abstract: Objective:to identify falling risk factors that are potentially modifiable among individuals who have idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Design:a between group comparison of 19 fallers and 21 nonfallers who have Parkinson's disease, across an array of variables that have been identified as falling risk factors among the elderly and among those who have Parkinson's disease. Results:several variables were demonstrated significantly to distinguish fallers: disease duration and severity; dyskinesias associated with the use of dopaminergic agents; freezing; postural instability; depression; fear of falling; impaired fine motor control and motor planning in the feet; decreased proximal strength and muscular endurance in the legs; and a higher level of disability. Conclusions:several of these variables can be viewed a potentially modifiable during a future intervention trial that aims to reduce falls in those who have Parkinson's disease using multidimensional risk factor modification.

Keywords: Falling, risk factors, Parkinson's disease

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2005-20304

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 169-182, 2005