Abstract
ObjectivesThe complex symptomatology of Parkinson’ disease (PD) usually goes along with reduced physical activity. Previous studies have indicated positive effects of activating therapies on patients’ well‐being. This study, therefore, examined how activity in daily life is related to patients’ subjective condition.Materials and MethodsTwenty‐one PD patients rated their condition every two hours during two routine days and documented the duration and type of their activities (based on the PRISCUS‐Physical Activity Questionnaire) during the respective time intervals. They were furthermore assessed regarding motor and nonmotor symptoms, personality factors, and coping strategies.ResultsPatients spent on average 8.59 ± 2.93 hr per day at physical rest and 5.47 ± 2.93 hr physically active. We found highly significant associations between positive condition ratings (such as happiness, motivation, and concentration) and the duration of subsequent physical activities (adj.r 2 = .689) as well as between the duration of these activities and a subsequent improvement in the subjective condition (adj.r 2 = .545). This was strongest in patients using active coping strategies and showing agreeable and conscientious personality traits (adj.r 2 = .380). Nonmotor symptom severity was weakly inversely related to the daily amount of activities (adj.r 2 = .273), whereas no significant association with motor symptom severity was found.ConclusionsThe results suggest a feedback process between a positive subjective condition and physical activities in PD patients. This appears to depend on the use of active coping strategies and nonmotor symptoms rather than on motor symptom severity. The results should encourage physicians to address the importance of everyday physical activities and to provide patients with behavioral advice.
Highlights
IntroductionParkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most frequent neurodegenerative movement disorders with an age-specific increase and widely ranging estimates on prevalence (about 100 to 1000 per100,000) and incidence (about 10 to 230 per 100,000 persons per year) in western European countries (von Campenhausen et al, 2005; Nerius, Fink, & Doblhammer, 2017)
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most frequent neurodegenerative movement disorders with an age-specific increase and widely ranging estimates on prevalence and incidence in western European countries
We studied interactions between the subjective condition and daily activities of Parkinson’ disease (PD) patients as well as potential influences of personality and disease-related factors
Summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most frequent neurodegenerative movement disorders with an age-specific increase and widely ranging estimates on prevalence (about 100 to 1000 per100,000) and incidence (about 10 to 230 per 100,000 persons per year) in western European countries (von Campenhausen et al, 2005; Nerius, Fink, & Doblhammer, 2017). Stemming from a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, motor symptoms mainly encompass bradykinesia, rigidity, and. Health-related quality of life encompasses those aspects of well-being and satisfaction with life that affect the individual’s physical and mental health, including functional status, and social support as well as the subjective health perception (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2000). Well-being can be conceptualized as a frequent positive affect, an infrequent negative affect, and positive cognitive evaluations (Diener, 1984)
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