Objective: To identify the determinants of the exercise behavior in PD patients

Background: The exercise is promising treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) which has been shown to lessen symptom progression. We sought to identify the determinants of the exercise behavior in PD patients, especially in the aspect of motor and non-motor symptoms.

Method: We enrolled 236 PD patients able to exercise (Hoehn Yahr stage ≤ 3) at Samsung Medical Center from September 2019 to November 2020. All motor and non-motor symptoms were investigated. The exercise behaviour of the PD patients was evaluated with the Physical Activity Scale of the Elderly (PASE)-leisure score, exercise duration (hours/session), frequency (times/week) and intensity of exercises done in the last month. Multivariate linear regression was done and the dependent variables were PASE-leisure score, exercise duration, and frequency.

Results: Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale (β=0.141, standard error of β [SE]=0.066, p=0.034), fatigue level (β=-0.219, SE=0.107, p=0.042) were significant factors associated with PASE leisure score. ABC scale (β=0.044, SE=0.021, p=0.038), was significant factor of the exercise duration, and Beck Depression Inventory score (β=-0.064, SE=0.028, p=0.025) was significant factor of frequency.

Conclusion: ABC scale and fatigue level are the significant modifiable factors that determine the exercise behavior of PD patients. Multifaceted intervention to raise the self-confidence of balance and lower the fatigue level should be devised and applied to exercise in PD patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/determinants-of-exercise-behavior-in-parkinsons-disease-patients-self-confidence-in-balance-and-fatigue-play-the-pivotal-role/