Abstract
Background:
Rigidity is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). There are few studies that have assessed rigidity with objective tools in PD patients.
Objective:
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°/s, 45°/s and 60°/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°/s, 45°/s and 60°/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°/s, 45°/s and 60°/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.