The predictive relationships between advanced dynamic balance and physical activity/quality of life in Parkinson's disease

Sz-Yan Wu; Tsu-Kung Lin; Chien-Yu Pan; Chia-Liang Tsai

doi:10.1016/j.humov.2023.103076

The predictive relationships between advanced dynamic balance and physical activity/quality of life in Parkinson's disease

Hum Mov Sci. 2023 Jun:89:103076. doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2023.103076. Epub 2023 Mar 10.

Authors

Sz-Yan Wu¹, Tsu-Kung Lin², Chien-Yu Pan³, Chia-Liang Tsai⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan; Department of Physical Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taiwan; Center of Parkinson's Disease, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan; Center for Mitochondrial Research and Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
³ Department of Physical Education, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Physical Education, Health and Leisure Studies, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Electronic address: andytsai@mail.ncku.edu.tw.

PMID: 36907068
DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2023.103076

Abstract

Gait and balance problems commonly occur in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, balance tasks with only one performance objective (e.g., sit-to-stand) may not be sufficient, compared to dual motor tasks (e.g., carrying a tray while walking), to be applied to the assessments and interventions which are designed to promote PD patients' balance functioning, physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HQoL). The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine whether advanced dynamic balance, measured by a demanding motor-motor dual task, is a significant predictor of PA/HQoL in older adults with and without PD. Participants with (n = 22) and without (n = 23) PD were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the single leg hop and stick series task (SLHS), the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ39). We calculated the R² change, namely the incremental validity, between the multiple regression models before and after adding the scores on the BBS/SLHS. While controlling for biological and socioeconomic covariates, competence in the SLHS task provided moderate and large levels of incremental validity to PA (ΔR² = 0.08, Cohen's f² = 0.25, p = .035) and HQoL (ΔR² = 0.13, Cohen's f² = 0.65, p < .001), respectively. In particular for participants with PD, the SLHS explained significantly more variance in HQoL in relation to psychosocial functioning (ΔR² = 0.25, Cohen's f² = 0.42, p = .028) compared to the BBS (p = .296). Assessing advanced dynamic balance by means of a highly demanding dual-task paradigm was not only strongly associated with PA but also covered a wider spectrum of HQoL components. This approach is recommended for use in evaluations and interventions carried out in clinical and research settings in order to promote healthy living.

Keywords: Active lifestyle; Dual task; Functional movement competence; Parkinson's disease.

MeSH terms

Aged
Gait
Humans
Parkinson Disease* / complications
Postural Balance
Quality of Life
Walking