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Background and Purpose: Exercise is beneficial for persons with Parkinson disease (PwPD). The overarching purpose of this scoping review was to provide guidance to clinicians and scientists regarding current evidence for bicycling exercise for PwPD. A scoping review was conducted to examine the heterogeneous literature on stationary bicycling for PwPD to reduce motor symptoms and body function structure impairments, improve activities and motor performance, and reduce disease severity. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were followed. PubMed, CINAHL, and PEDro were searched from inception to January 23, 2023. Articles reporting original data on relevant outcome measures were included. Search results were screened and articles were extracted. Data were analyzed quantitatively with percentages of significant and clinically meaningful findings and qualitatively to extract themes. Results: Bicycling was categorized using bicycle types (assisted, nonassisted) and training modes (speed, aerobic, force). A high percentage of the 34 studies showed statistical significance for reducing motor symptoms (83%), body function structure impairments (78%), disease severity (82%), and improving activities (gait 72%, balance 60%). Clinically meaningful findings were achieved in 71% of the studies for reduction in disease severity and in 50% for improving gait. Discussion and Conclusions: The literature on bicycling for PwPD has evolved from speed to aerobic studies. The terminology describing types of bicycling was simplified. Of all the outcomes reported, reduction of disease severity achieved the highest frequency of clinical meaningful improvements. Bicycling was comparable with other forms of aerobic training for walking speed and endurance. Opportunities for translation to practice and research are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of this study was to characterize side-to-side differences in quadriceps, hamstrings strength, and quadriceps activation in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). Participants were individuals with PD (n = 17) with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale motor scores ranging from 9.5 to 61.0. Paired t tests compared strength and muscle activation between limbs for all individuals. The stronger quadriceps was 15.2% stronger (P < .001) and the stronger hamstring was 12.9% stronger (P = .001). Side-to-side differences in quadriceps activation was 18.9%, but insignificant (P = .072). No pattern explained side-to-side differences. Muscle strength asymmetry is variable, but present across a range of PD disease severity, which emphasizes the importance of a detailed clinical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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, which were 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) demographies/anthropometries, (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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the association between activity and physical participation in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD) and those without PD. Methods: Participants were 190 volunteers with PD (n = 74) and without PD (n = 116) between 50 and 94 years. They completed the Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance 10-item test and the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors physical activity questionnaire for older adults as measures of activity and participation, respectively. Conclusions: Associations between participation and activity were small to moderate for adults with PD and small for those without PD. Participants with PD also had significantly lower activity scores than participants without PD. Older adults with PD are more limited in activity and are approaching a point where activity limitations also constrain participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) experience a range of deficits of body systems and activities. A clinical test is needed that is reliable, valid, applicable to physical therapist practice, and appropriate for use in early and mid-stages of the disease. PROFILE PD is one such scale, consisting of 24 items that would typically be assessed during the physical therapist's examination and evaluation of individuals with PD. The purpose of this article is to report on clinimetric properties of the PROFILE PD and to make the test available for use. Methods: Interrater reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Construct validity was determined by comparing scores on the PROFILE PD with the gold standard (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale [UPDRS]) as well as scales of physical activity and participation. Construct validity and structure of the PROFILE PD were further examined using exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with Promax rotation that allows a correlated factor structure. Results: Interrater reliability of the PROFILE PD was high (ICC = 0.97). Construct validity was demonstrated with the UPDRS (r - 0.86, P < 0.0001), Schwab & England Activities of Daily Living Scale (S&E) (r --0.S3,P< 0.0001 ), and Continuous Scale Physical Functional Performance test (/¦ = -0.62, P < 0.0001). Principal component analysis demonstrated that the test comprises a single scale. Conclusions: The PROFILE PD is a reliable and valid scale that can be used to quantify alterations in body systems and activity of individuals in early and mid-stages of PD. Use of the scale can provide an overall summary of the impact of PD on body systems and activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leadership and clinical staff were surveyed to explore communication and leadership in nursing homes. Registered nurses and other professionals perceived communication as better than their nursing colleagues did. Overall, results suggest all factors of communication could improve. In terms of leadership, licensed practical nurses perceived less clarity of expectations, encouragement of initiative, and support than other groups. The study provides insight into what is organizationally necessary to improve quality of care in nursing homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]