Abstract
ObjectiveTo determine which clinical measures of physical function (ie, gait, balance, and grip strength) best represent long-term electromyography in persons with Parkinson disease (PD) compared with those without PD. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingLocal community. ParticipantsA sample (N=37) of men and women with PD (n=23) and those without PD (n=14), living independently at home, older than 50 years of age, from the local community. InterventionsNot applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresMeasures of gait, balance, and grip strength were completed, and electromyography was examined in biceps brachii, triceps brachii, vastus lateralis, and biceps femoris during a 6.5-hour day. Muscle activity was quantified through burst in electromyography (>2% of the normalized maximum voluntary exertion with a continuous activity period of >0.1s). Stepwise multiple regression models were used to determine the proportion of variance in burst characteristics explained by clinical measures of physical function in PD. ResultsGrip strength was the best predictor of muscle activity in persons with PD (R2=.17–.33; P<.04), whereas gait characteristics explained muscle activity in healthy controls (R2=.40–.82; P<.04). ConclusionsGrip strength could serve as an effective clinical assessment tool to determine changes in muscle activity, which is a precursor to functional loss in persons with PD.
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