title: Determinants of use of a walking device in persons with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify determinants for the use of a walking device in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of participants with PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons with PD (N=85; 60 men) were studied. Their mean age was 69.4±8.9 years. The average time since diagnosis was 7.9±5.3 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age, sex, disease duration, disease severity, and motor impairment were recorded. Participants were asked whether they usually used any walking device (eg, cane or walker) and were categorized as either an "independent walker" or a "device walker." Clinical balance measures including functional reach, turn duration, 5-meter timed Up and Go (5m-TUG) test, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale were investigated for their contribution to the prediction of walking with a device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one participants (36.5%) reported that they usually used a walking device. Classification and regression tree analysis determined that the 5m-TUG test and the ABC scale were important factors in differentiating participants who used a walking device from those who did not. Critical thresholds included 13 seconds for the 5m-TUG test and a score of 75 for the ABC scale in determining device walking. Using only these 2 determinants, the classification and regression tree model correctly classified 81% of the patients as either independent or needing a walking device.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 5m-TUG test and the ABC scale may be useful in clinical assessments of the need for a walking device in persons with PD.
authors: Research Service, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX; Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. Electronic address: msbryant@bcm.edu.
authors: Mon S
authors: MS
authors: Bryant
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
authors: Diana H
authors: DH
authors: Rintala
authors: Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.
authors: James E
authors: JE
authors: Graham
authors: Lehigh Neurology, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA.
authors: Jyhgong Gabriel
authors: JG
authors: Hou
authors: Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.
authors: Elizabeth J
authors: EJ
authors: Protas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002183:Canes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014853:Walkers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Assistive devices; Parkinson's disease; Rehabilitation