Risk of falling in Parkinson's disease patients

from Kerr et al. Neurology 2010; 75: 116=124

Authors looked at 101 independently living patients without walking aids and put various factors through a computer to predict risk of falling.  The factors that increased the risk include

• dyskinesias
• symptomatic orthostasis
• sleep disturbance
• Tinetti, Berg, and TUG (timed up and go) measurements
• poor peripheral sensation and knee extension strength and greater a-p sway when standing on firm surface
• UPDRS total score and FOG (freezing) questionnaire
• For previous nonfallers, key measurement was A-P sway on firm surface as risk for future conversion to falling
• UPDRS factors that were most important were rising from chair, rapid alternating movements and leg agility