Impairment, disability, and life satisfaction in Parkinson's disease

To determine the correlation of motor and musculoskeletal impairments with disability scores and life satisfaction. Musculoskeletal impairments might be due to the impact of motor impairments, however some cases may have these impairments even before the disease is diagnosed.

48 consecutive patients (32 male, 16 female) with Parkinson's disease with a mean age of 65.6, mean age of onset of the disease of 59.8, and Hoehn and Yahr staging system 1-4 participated. Unified Parkinson's disease rating scale, modified Schwab and England activities of daily living scale and life satisfaction index were used. Also New York modified mobility rating scale for c-spine and upper extremities and trunk and lower extremities was performed.

Motor and musculoskeletal impairments were correlated with the disability score. Bradykinesia, and tremor were correlated with upper and lower extremity range of motion limitation, but rigidity was not. Bradykinesia was correlated with life satisfication. Having had the disease longer was related to upper extremity range of motion limitation.

Motor and musculoskeletal impairments are correlated with disability scores. Bradykinesia and musculoskeletal impairments are correlated with life satisfication. Patients with Parkinson's disease might benefit from a rehabilitation programme focusing on motor impairments such as bradykinesia as well as musculoskeletal impairments even in the early stages of the disease.