Leg Muscle Strength Correlates with Gait Performance in Advanced Parkinson Disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Leg muscle strength (LMS) declines in early Parkinson disease (PD), impacting mobility and fall risk.
• LMS in advanced PD stages remains under-investigated, necessitating further research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess leg muscle strength (LMS) in advanced Parkinson disease (PD) patients (Hoehn and Yahr stages 3-4).
• To investigate the relationship between LMS and gait performance, activities of daily living, and cognitive function in advanced PD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 132 advanced PD patients (mean disease duration 9.6 years).
• Measurement of leg extensor muscle strength using Strength Ergo 240.
• Analysis of associations between LMS and clinical/functional measures (gait, Barthel index, MMSE, H&Y stage).

Main Results:

• LMS correlated significantly with sex, age, disease onset age, H&Y stage, Barthel index, MMSE score, and gait parameters.
• Gait velocity, Barthel index, sex, and disease duration were significant predictors of LMS.
• LMS demonstrated a strong ability to discriminate between Hoehn and Yahr stages 3 and 4 (AUC=0.774).

Conclusions:

• Leg muscle strength is closely associated with gait velocity and functional independence (Barthel index) in advanced PD.
• LMS may serve as a valuable indicator for predicting Parkinson disease progression.