Self-Rating Scales Do Not Predict Balance in Parkinson Disease

Tinetti's Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale have been shown to be predictably associated with balance dysfunction in elderly populations. However, there has been limited research into whether these batteries are related to actual measures of postural control in persons with Parkinson disease (PD). PURPOSE: Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if these self-reported scores of fear of falling and balance confidence are significantly associated with postural control in PD. METHODS: Twenty-two participants with PD rated their fear of falling using the FES and balance confidence with the ABC. Postural control was measured using a force plate system under both single and dual task conditions: S1: eyes open, S2: eyes closed, D1: holding a hand held object, D2: D1 plus a cognitive challenge, and D3: D1 plus a motor challenge. Sway area was calculated from the range of center of pressure fluctuation in the anteriorposterior and mediolateral directions. Pearson correlations compared the two self-reported scores to sway area for each of the five conditions. RESULTS: FES and ABS ratings were not significantly correlated with postural control under single or dual task conditions. FES and ABC scores did significantly correlate (Table 1).Table 1: Correlation of sway area with self rating balance scales in PDCONCLUSION: Self-reported fear of falling and balance confidence does not fully reflect postural capability in individuals with PD. Supported by NIH grant 5R03HD054594-02