Factors associated with ambulatory activity in de novo Parkinson disease

Cory Christiansen*, Charity Moore, Margaret Schenkman, Benzi Kluger, Wendy Kohrt, Anthony Delitto, Brian Berman, Deborah Hall, Deborah Josbeno, Cynthia Poon, Julie Robichaud, Toby Wellington, Samay Jain, Cynthia Comella, Daniel Corcos, Ed Melanson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Objective ambulatory activity during daily living has not been characterized for people with Parkinson disease prior to initiation of dopaminergic medication. Our goal was to characterize ambulatory activity based on average daily step count and examine determinants of step count in nonexercising people with de novo Parkinson disease. Methods: We analyzed baseline data from a randomized controlled trial, which excluded people performing regular endurance exercise. Of 128 eligible participants (mean±SD=64.3±8.6 years), 113 had complete accelerometer data,whichwere used to determine daily step count. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with average daily step count over 10 days. Candidate explanatory variable categories were (1) demographics/anthropometrics, (2) Parkinson disease characteristics, (3) motor symptom severity, (4) nonmotor and behavioral characteristics, (5) comorbidities, and (6) cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: Average daily step count was 5362 ± 2890 steps per day. Five factors explained 24% of daily step count variability, with higher step count associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness (10%), no fear/worry of falling (5%), lower motor severity examination score (4%), more recent time since Parkinson disease diagnosis (3%), and the presence of a cardiovascular condition (2%). Discussion and Conclusions: Daily step count in nonexercising people recruited for this intervention trial with de novo Parkinson disease approached sedentary lifestyle levels. Further study is warranted for elucidating factors explaining ambulatory activity, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness, and fear/worry of falling. Clinicians should consider the costs and benefits of exercise and activity behavior interventions immediately after diagnosis of Parkinson disease to attenuate the health consequences of low daily step count.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)93-100
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
Volume41
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Funding

Dr Christiansen's effortwas supported by NIHGrant Number K12 HD055931. This work was supported by NIH Grant Number R01NS074343 (SPARX) and NIH/NCATS Colorado CTSA Grant Number UL1 TR001082.

Keywords

  • Accelerometry
  • Endurance
  • Human movement system
  • Locomotion
  • Stepping
  • Walking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Clinical Neurology

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