Objective: Our aim is to examine the relationship between balance, trunk impairment and hand function in patients with PD.

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer disease. PD affects hand function, balance and trunk control negatively. These impairments result in falls and affect negatively daily living activity and quality of life.

Methods: 57 patients (22 female and 35 male) with PD mean age was 67.57 (SD 9.4) years and mean Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stage was 2.52 (SD 0.78) included this study. Including criteria were consisted of idiopathic PD, H&Y stage I-IV, on medication states, not having orthopedic and neurological disease limiting dexterity. Balance with Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and trunk impairment with Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and hand function with the Squares Test (ST) evaluated.

Results: Mean BBS score was 50.61 (SD 5.97) and mean TIS score was 19.57 (SD 3.06). There was a significant positive correlation between hand function and balance, trunk control. (Spearman Correlation test, BBS; r= 0.812, TIS; r= 0.843, p<0.01; respectively). In addition, between hand function, balance, trunk control and H&Y stage was a significant negative correlation (Spearman Correlation test, ST; r= -0.598, BBS; r= -0.692, TIS; r= -0.793, p<0.01, respectively).

Conclusions: Our study reflects that there was an association between balance, trunk impairment and hand function. We concluded that balance and trunk stability has importance for hand functionality in PD. Thus, hand function impairments should be assessed and treated along with balance and trunk impairments. Trunk and balance treatment might be implemented in hand function rehabilitation in early stage of PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/relationship-between-balance-trunk-impairment-and-hand-function-in-parkinsons-disease/