Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational Study

Introduction: A common symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is tremor, which, in combination with motor block termed ‘freezing’, acts as a major disabling factor for Upper Extremity (UE) function in people with PD. Aim: To determine the correlation between tremor and upper limb function in PD patien...

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Main Authors: Nagarjuna Narayanasetti, Kshitija Bansal, Annie Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20846/74694_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(Mu_IS)_PF1(AG_OM)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
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_version_ 1850203587766910976
author Nagarjuna Narayanasetti
Kshitija Bansal
Annie Thomas
author_facet Nagarjuna Narayanasetti
Kshitija Bansal
Annie Thomas
author_sort Nagarjuna Narayanasetti
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: A common symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is tremor, which, in combination with motor block termed ‘freezing’, acts as a major disabling factor for Upper Extremity (UE) function in people with PD. Aim: To determine the correlation between tremor and upper limb function in PD patients. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional correlational study was conducted over one year at Sri Krishna Neuro and General Hospital, Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh, India. Thirty primary PD patients aged 40-60 years were enrolled, following inclusion criteria. Tremors were evaluated using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marín tremor rating Scale (FTMS) and Bain and Findley Tremor (BFT) for Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Hand function was assessed using the 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) for the Dominant Side (DS) and Non Dominant Side (NDS). Spearman’s correlation, with p-value≤0.05 considered statistically significant, was used for analysis. Results: The mean age of the 30 patients was 56.5±3.83 years; 21 (70%) were males and 9 (30%) were females. The median FTMS total score was 109, with a median severity score of 75.7; the interquartile ranges (IQRs) were 4.75 and 3.30, respectively. Median 9HPT scores were 25.2 (DS) and 27.2 (NDS) and the median BFT score was 71; IQRs were 6.79, 6.87 and 2.75, respectively. Spearman’s correlation showed no significant correlation between FTMS and 9HPT scores, but a moderate correlation (r=0.46) was observed between FTMS and BFT scores (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: Tremor severity (FTMS) was not correlated with hand function. However, a link was identified between tremor and tremor-related ADLs. Further research exploring the relationship between non motor symptoms and motor or cognitive impairment and reduced quality of life associated with PD, is warranted.
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spelling doaj-art-bd69eef9a6cf41d799a58969865bf3612025-08-20T02:11:29ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2025-04-01194060910.7860/JCDR/2025/74694.20846Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational StudyNagarjuna Narayanasetti0Kshitija Bansal1Annie Thomas2Research Scholar, Department of Physiotherapy, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana, India.Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana, India.Principal and Professor, VYMAK College of Physiotherapy, Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.Introduction: A common symptom of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is tremor, which, in combination with motor block termed ‘freezing’, acts as a major disabling factor for Upper Extremity (UE) function in people with PD. Aim: To determine the correlation between tremor and upper limb function in PD patients. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional correlational study was conducted over one year at Sri Krishna Neuro and General Hospital, Kasibugga, Andhra Pradesh, India. Thirty primary PD patients aged 40-60 years were enrolled, following inclusion criteria. Tremors were evaluated using the Fahn-Tolosa-Marín tremor rating Scale (FTMS) and Bain and Findley Tremor (BFT) for Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Hand function was assessed using the 9-Hole Peg Test (9HPT) for the Dominant Side (DS) and Non Dominant Side (NDS). Spearman’s correlation, with p-value≤0.05 considered statistically significant, was used for analysis. Results: The mean age of the 30 patients was 56.5±3.83 years; 21 (70%) were males and 9 (30%) were females. The median FTMS total score was 109, with a median severity score of 75.7; the interquartile ranges (IQRs) were 4.75 and 3.30, respectively. Median 9HPT scores were 25.2 (DS) and 27.2 (NDS) and the median BFT score was 71; IQRs were 6.79, 6.87 and 2.75, respectively. Spearman’s correlation showed no significant correlation between FTMS and 9HPT scores, but a moderate correlation (r=0.46) was observed between FTMS and BFT scores (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: Tremor severity (FTMS) was not correlated with hand function. However, a link was identified between tremor and tremor-related ADLs. Further research exploring the relationship between non motor symptoms and motor or cognitive impairment and reduced quality of life associated with PD, is warranted.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20846/74694_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(Mu_IS)_PF1(AG_OM)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdfactivities of daily livingbain and findley tremor scalefahn-tolosa marin clinical rating scalehand function tests9-hole peg test
spellingShingle Nagarjuna Narayanasetti
Kshitija Bansal
Annie Thomas
Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational Study
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
activities of daily living
bain and findley tremor scale
fahn-tolosa marin clinical rating scale
hand function tests
9-hole peg test
title Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational Study
title_full Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational Study
title_fullStr Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational Study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational Study
title_short Impact of Tremor on Upper Limb Function in Parkinson’s Disease: An Cross-sectional Correlational Study
title_sort impact of tremor on upper limb function in parkinson s disease an cross sectional correlational study
topic activities of daily living
bain and findley tremor scale
fahn-tolosa marin clinical rating scale
hand function tests
9-hole peg test
url https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20846/74694_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(Mu_IS)_PF1(AG_OM)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
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AT anniethomas impactoftremoronupperlimbfunctioninparkinsonsdiseaseancrosssectionalcorrelationalstudy