Effects of Motor Freezing on Balance, Activity-Specific Balance Confidence, and Quality of Life in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of motor freezing blocks on balance control, activity-specific balance confidence (ABC), and quality of life in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: The freezing of gait questionnaire (FOG) was employed to categorize the participants into groups according to the presence (group 1) or absence (group 2) of motor freezing blocks. The balance of the participants was evaluated using the Tinetti Balance and Walking, and the Tandem Stance and Walking test. Activity confidence was assessed using the ABC scale, while quality of life was evaluated using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8 (PDQ-8). Results: A total of 74 individuals with PD were included in the study, comprising groups 1 (n = 38) and 2 (n = 36). A comparison of the Tinetti balance and walking score, Tandem stance and step score, ABC-scale, and PDQ-8 scores of group 1 and group 2 revealed a significant difference between the groups (p<0.05), with no difference observed in the Tandem gait score (p=0.615). A correlation was observed between freezing and other parameters (p<0.05), except the tandem walking score (p=0.994). Conclusion: Individuals with PD who experience motor freezing often suffer from more severe balance impairment, decreased self-confidence, and a significantly reduced quality of life.

Keywords

• Activity
• Balance
• Freezing
• Parkinson’s disease
• Quality of life

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