Objective: Activity restriction related to the fear of falling (AR-FF) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) contributes to a decrease in level of physical activity and emergence of balance-gait disorders. Determining the factors that cause this restriction will be a guide for taking precautions; therefore, this study aimed to examine the factors that cause AR-FF in PD and to reveal the indicators that predict AR-FF.
Material and Methods: A total of 70 patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD, early–middle stage, without dementia and meeting the inclusion criteria were evaluated. Age, sex, movement disorder society unified PD rating scale motor score (MDS-UPDRS-TR-III), disease duration, timed up and go test (TUG) duration, TUG cognitive dual-task duration, fall prediction model (FPM) total score, SARC-F (strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) total score, possible presence of sarcopenia, activity level, and fear of falling were determined as independent variables and the survey of activities and fear of falling in the elderly activity restriction score (SAFEar) was used as the criterion of AR-FF. Linear regression analysis was performed with parameters correlating with SAFEar, as a result of Spearman correlation analysis.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 60.99 ± 11.31 years. The mean disease duration was 7.27 ± 4.08 years, and the MDS-UPDRS-TR-III score was 28.40 ± 13.43. MDS-UPDRS-TR-III score (P < .001), FPM total score (P < .001), SARC-F total score (P < .001), SAFE activity level (SAFEal) score (P < .001), and SAFE fear of falling (SAFEff) score (P < .001), disease duration (P = .02), TUG duration (P = .02), and TUG cognitive double task duration (P = .04) were correlated with the SAFEar score. It was determined that the MDS-UPDRS-TR-III score, SAFEff score, and TUG cognitive dual-task duration predicted the SAFEar score as a result of the regression analysis.
Conclusion: It was determined that the severity of motor symptoms, fear of falling, and impaired balance in Parkinson's disease may cause activity limitation associated with the fear of falling beginning from the early stages of the disease.
Cite this article as: Tüfekçioğlu Z, Ersöz Hüseyinsinoğlu B, Zenginler Yazgan Y, Bilgiç B, Hanağası HA. Factors Affecting Activity Restrictions Related to the Fear of Falling in Parkinson’s Disease. Arch Health Sci Res. 2021;8(1):39-45.