Objective: This study assessed the concurrent validity, feasibility and perceived utility of two different modalities of capturing physical activity (PA) in people with newly diagnosed Parkinson’s and determined activity levels compared to recommended guidelines.

Background: Previous research indicates that PA can help people with Parkinson’s (PwP) to manage their symptoms. Quantifying PA levels can help determine who may benefit from support with PA. A literature search and patient and public involvement highlighted that questionnaires and accelerometers may be suitable measures for determining PA but their feasibility of use within a clinical service has not been assessed.

Method: We recruited 24 participants by convenience sampling from a service for newly diagnosed PwP at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, UK. The study was conducted remotely (telephone/postal correspondence). Participants used a wrist-worn accelerometer (GENEActiv™) for one week and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-S) about that week’s PA levels and a Likert-style utility questionnaire on the perceived feasibility of using the different measures. A Spearman’s correlation assessed the concurrent validity of the measures. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise activity levels in relation to World Health Organisation guidelines of 150 minutes moderate PA and the feasibility of measures based on responses to the utility questionnaire.

Results: In the first 10 participants (N=10; 8 males, 2 females;  age 72.5 years, SD ± 10; mean disease duration 1 years) there was no correlation between the PA levels recorded by the PA measures (r_s = 0.1, n = 10, p = 0.39). Overall, the sample were above guidelines for PA (IPAQ-S mean 552 mins per week, range 0–1740, SD ± 610; GENEActiv™ mean 266 mins per week, range 4–556, SD ± 176). Participants disagreed with the statement ‘I would rather fill in a PA questionnaire about the previous week than wear the sensor for a week’ (mean response 4.4 = disagree, SD 0.84) but agreed ‘the PA questionnaire was easy to fill in’ (mean response 1.6 = agree, SD 1.26).

Conclusion: Analysis suggests it is feasible to introduce a measure of PA to patients but wide variation between the measures suggests questions remain over validity in PwP.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/measures-of-physical-activity-in-parkinsons-disease-mapd/