title: Axial rigidity is related to the risk of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rigidity is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) and is often clinically assessed by passively flexing and extending a patient's limb. Objective measurements had been employed to examine rigidity in PD subjects, including wrist, elbow or knee.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the relationship between an objective measurement of trunk rigidity and risk of falls in patients with mild to moderate PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  An isokinetic dynamometer Biodex System 3 was employed to assess trunk rigidity in 36 patients with mild to moderate PD at a University Department in a cross-sectional study. Risk of falls was measured by the Get Up & Go test (GU&G). Disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr staging score and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III), disease duration and functional status (Schwab & England activities of daily living scale) were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant correlations between trunk extensors rigidity at 45°/s and 60°/s and risk of falls were obtained. A correlation between trunk extensors tone at 30°/s and the GU&G test almost reached significant almost reached statistical significance (r = 0.306; p = 0,066). Significant correlations between trunk flexors-extensors tone and clinical status, disease duration and functional status at 30°/s, 45°/s and 60°/s were also obtained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from this study suggest that the axial rigidity is related to the risk of falls in patients with mild to moderate PD. Further studies are needed with quantitative devices for axial rigidity assessment to determine the relationship between trunk rigidity in PD patients with higher disease severity and risk of falls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cano-de-la-Cuerda
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Division of Movements Disorders, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (HUFA), Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vela-Desojo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Miangolarra-Page
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Division of Movements Disorders, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón (HUFA), Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Macías-Macías
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009127:Muscle Rigidity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D060726:Torso / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Parkinson’s disease; axial impairments; falls; objective measurement; rigidity; risk of falls; trunk