Factors explaining physical activity level in Parkinson´s disease: A gender focus

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts physical activity levels.
• Understanding factors influencing physical activity is crucial for managing PD.
• Gender differences in factors affecting physical activity in PD are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between self-rated physical activity and various factors in individuals with PD.
• To explore gender-specific relationships between these factors and physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 285 individuals with PD (mean age 69.1 years).
• Utilized validated self-reported scales for physical activity, self-efficacy, fall efficacy, social support, fatigue, and quality of life.
• Employed multiple regression analyses to identify significant predictors of physical activity.

Main Results:

• Physical activity levels were associated with mobility limitations, age, self-efficacy, communication, discomfort, social support, and time since diagnosis, explaining 54.5% of the variance.
• Enjoyment of physical activity was a significant predictor for women.
• Self-efficacy for physical activity was a significant predictor for men.

Conclusions:

• Interventions should focus on enhancing functional mobility, self-efficacy, social support, and enjoyment to promote physical activity in people with PD.
• Tailoring strategies based on gender may improve the effectiveness of physical activity interventions for individuals with PD.