Parkinson Anxiety Scale: A Validation Study for the Brazilian Population.

OBJECTIVE: The Parkinson Anxiety Scale (PAS) was developed to measure the severity of anxiety symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and it has not yet been adapted and validated in Portuguese. Thus, this study evaluated the reliability and validity of a translated and adapted version of the PAS for the Brazilian population of PD patients. METHODS: The Parkinson Anxiety Scale - Brazilian Version (PAS-BV) was completed by 55 patients with PD. The reliability (test-retest reliability, interrater reliability and internal consistency) and construct validity of the PAS-BV were assessed by comparing it with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Parkinson's Disease Fatigue Scale (PFS) and the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III. RESULTS: Patients with PD had an average age of 64.51 ± 9.20 years and had PD for an average of 6.98 ± 5.02 years. The reliability of the PAS-BV was 0.83, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (retest-test) was 0.88. The scale presented good convergent validity with the BAI (rs = 0.82, p < 0.05). It also presented good divergent validity with the PFS (rs = 0.24, p > 0.05) and the UPDRS part II (rs = -0.10, p > 0.05), part III (rs = -0.21, p > 0.05), and part IV (rs = 0.03, p > 0.05), as indicated by the absence of significant correlations. However, there was a significant correlation between the PAS-BV and part I of the UPDRS (rs = 0.67, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The PAS-BV presents substantial reliability and validity for patients with PD without dementia.

Muscle thickness and functional performance of patients with Parkinsons disease / Espessura muscular e desempenho funcional em pacientes com doença de Parkinson

Abstract The aims of this study were: a) to check if there is difference between muscle thickness measured by ultrasonography at three different sites, elbow flexors and knee extensors of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); b) to check if there is correlation between muscle thickness and functional performance in patients with PD. Muscle thickness was assessed by ultrasonography at three anatomical sites in elbow flexors (proximal - EF1, medial, EF2, and distal - EF3) and knee extensors (proximal - EK1, medial - EK2, and distal - EK3), as well as functional performance assessment (chair stand and arm curl) of 31 patients with PD. The results suggest that EF3 muscle thickness was significantly (p> 0.05) lower than EF2 and EF1. Muscle thickness of knee extensors was statistically different in the anatomical points of rectus muscles and vastus medialis muscles (EK1>EK2>EK3). There was no correlation between muscle thickness and functional performance of lower (r= 0.17; p= 0.35) and upper limbs (r= -0.17; p= 0.34) of PD patients. The results indicate that the anatomical point has significant influence on the muscle thickness of elbow flexors and knee extensors of patients with PD. Thus, the careful determination of the evaluation of muscle thickness sites is a key variable when the goal is to quantify muscle thickness in patients with PD.

Resumo Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: a) testar se existe diferença entre os valores de espessura muscular mensurados por ultrassonografia em três diferentes pontos, nos músculos flexores de cotovelo e extensores do joelho em pacientes com doença de Parkinson (DP); b) Testar se existe correlação entre a espessura muscular e desempenho funcional em pacientes com DP. A medida de espessura muscular foi avaliada por ultrassonografia em três pontos anatômicos nos flexores de cotovelo (proximal - FC1, médio, FC2, e distal - FC3) e extensores de joelho (proximal - EJ1, medial - EJ2, e distal - EJ3), além da avaliação do desempenho funcional (teste de sentar e levantar, e flexão de cotovelo) de 31 pacientes (64.6 ± 10.6 anos de idade) com DP. Os resultados sugerem que a espessura muscular do ponto FC3 foi significativamente (p>0.05) menor que os valores do ponto FC2 e FC1. A espessura muscular dos extensores do joelho foi estatisticamente diferente nos pontos anatômicos dos músculos reto da coxa e vasto intermédio (EJ1>EJ2>EJ3). Não houve correlação entre a espessura muscular e o desempenho funcional dos membros inferiores (r= 0.17; p= 0.35) e superiores (r= -0.17; p= 0.34) de pacientes com DP. Os resultados do nosso estudo indicam que o ponto anatômico de mensuração exerce influência significativa na espessura muscular dos flexores do cotovelo e extensores do joelho de pacientes com DP. Desta forma, a determinação criteriosa dos locais de avaliação da espessura muscular é uma variável fundamental, quando o objetivo é quantificar a espessura muscular em pacientes com DP.

Resistance training reduces depressive symptoms in elderly people with Parkinson disease: A controlled randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Depression affects up to 40% of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). PURPOSE: To assess resistance training effects on the depressive symptoms of elderly PD patients. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized control study. METHODS: Thirty-three patients (aged ≥ 60 years) were randomly divided into two groups: (a) control group: n = 16 and (b) resistance training group (RTG): n = 17. All patients with Parkinson's disease (stage 1-3 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale). The RTG, in addition to maintaining their pharmacological treatments, performed 20 weeks of resistance training. The control group maintained their pharmacological treatments. Depressive symptoms, quality of life, unified Parkinson's Disease scale, and functional capacity were evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: The RTG presented a significant reduction (P < .05) of depressive symptoms (pre = 17.9 ± 8 score; post = 10.3 ± 6 score; effect size: -0.48), improved quality of life (pre = 40.3 ± 21.1 score; post = 30.2 ± 16.8 score; effect size: -0.26), and improved UPDRS (pre = 64 ± 34.6 score; post = 49.1 ± 24.1 score; effect size: -0.24). No significant changes in the control group regarding depressive symptoms (pre = 18.7 ± 5.4 score; post = 19.4 ± 5.2 score; effect size: 0.07), quality of life (pre = 39 ± 16.1 score; post = 40.6 ± 15.6 score; effect size: 0.05), and UPDRS (pre = 61.1 ± 24.3 score; post = 64.9 ± 23.4 score; effect size: 0.08) after 20 weeks. CONCLUSION: Resistance training reduces depressive symptoms and improves the quality of life and functionality of elderly with PD.

The effect of resistance training on the anxiety symptoms and quality of life in elderly people with Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of resistance training on the anxiety symptoms and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: Thirty-five elderly patients were randomly divided into two groups: 17 patients in the control group and 18 in the intervention group. All patients maintained standard pharmacological treatment for Parkinson's disease, but the intervention group participated in a 24-week resistance training program. The anxiety symptoms were assessed through the Beck's Anxiety Inventory, and quality of life by the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in anxiety level and increase in quality of life after 24 weeks of resistance training. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that resistance training is an effective intervention in the reduction of anxiety symptoms and improves the quality of life in elderly people with Parkinson's disease.

The effect of resistance training on the anxiety symptoms and quality of life in elderly people with Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial / O efeito do treinamento resistido sobre sintomas de ansiedade e qualidade de vida em idosos com doença de Parkinson's: ensaio randomizado controlado

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the effects of resistance training on the anxiety symptoms and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: Thirty-five elderly patients were randomly divided into two groups: 17 patients in the control group and 18 in the intervention group. All patients maintained standard pharmacological treatment for Parkinson's disease, but the intervention group participated in a 24-week resistance training program. The anxiety symptoms were assessed through the Beck's Anxiety Inventory, and quality of life by the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39. Results: There was a significant reduction in anxiety level and increase in quality of life after 24 weeks of resistance training. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that resistance training is an effective intervention in the reduction of anxiety symptoms and improves the quality of life in elderly people with Parkinson's disease.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos do treinamento resistido nos sintomas de ansiedade e na qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Parkinson. Métodos: Trinta e cinco pacientes idosos foram divididos randomicamente em dois grupos: 17 indivíduos no grupo controle e 18 no grupo de intervenção. Todos os sujeitos mantiveram o tratamento farmacológico padrão para a doença de Parkinson, mas o grupo de intervenção participou de um programa de treinamento resistido de 24 semanas. Os sintomas de ansiedade foram avaliados através do inventário de ansiedade de Beck e a qualidade de vida pelo questionário da doença de Parkinson-39. Resultados: Houve redução significativa no nível de ansiedade e melhora da qualidade de vida após 24 semanas de treinamento resistido. Conclusão: Os resultados do presente estudo indicam que o treinamento resistido é uma intervenção efetiva na redução dos sintomas de ansiedade e melhora a qualidade de vida em idosos com doença de Parkinson.