Relationship between toe grip strength and gait or balance function in patients with Parkinsonʼs disease who live at home

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate association between toe grip strength and gait function or balance function in patients with stage 2 and 3 (Hoehn & Yahr) Parkinson’s disease (PD) who live at home. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 10 patients with stages 2 and 3 PD (Hoehn & Yahr) who lived at home. Toe grip strength, maximal gait speed, preferred gait speed, functional reach test score, one-leg standing time, and timed up-and-go test score were measured. Relationships between toe grip strength and these measurement items were statistically analyzed using spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. [Results] A positive correlation was observed between toe grip strength and functional reach test; however, no such association was observed for the other measurement items. [Conclusion] These results suggest that toe grip strength may reflected with static balance in patients with stage 2 and 3 PD.