An Exploration of Muscle Power and Fall Risk in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Impaired balance, impaired mobility and falls are common problems for people with Parkinson's disease. To guide interventions, there is a need to understand the association between impairments and balance and mobility tasks, identify potentially remediable fall risk factors and predict falls. To address these gaps, a simple clinical fall prediction tool was developed. Reduced muscle power and strength, freezing of gait and impaired cognition were found to influence balance and mobility, which along with these impairments are associated with fall risk. These studies provide strategies to address impairments, improve task performance and optimise fall prevention for people with Parkinson’s disease.