Abstract:

Purpose: Daily life activities mostly require dual task (IG) performance. In Parkinson’s disease (PH), the functional state of the individual in daily life can be affected by the interaction between motor and cognitive function. The aim of this study was to study the impact of motor and cognitive IG on manual function in Parkinson’s patients. Method: The study included 33 healthy individuals between 50-80 years of age and 32 healthy individuals with similar age and gender distribution. The 9 hole peg test (DDPT) was used to evaluate the hand function. The engine IG was assessed by the rhythmic shock of the foot during DDPT, and the cognitive IG was assessed by the series seven-extraction test during DDPT. The DDPT results were recorded from the single task, the engine IG and the cognitive IG under the second. The percentage of interaction is calculated. The measurements were repeated for the dominant and non-dominant hands. Results: In the PH group, the dominant and non-dominant hand function was found to decrease more than in the control group during both motor and cognitive IG (p<0,05). In both groups, it was determined that the cognitive IG reduced the manual function more than the engine IG (p<0,05). In comparison with the percentage of IG interaction, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of engine IG interaction (p>0,05); in terms of cognitive IG interaction, the interaction in the PH group was greater than the control group (p<0,05). Discussions: The hand function of individuals with pH is reduced under IG. This decrease is greater especially during the cognitive IG. The rehabilitation objectives of patients with PH should also include improving IG performance during manual function. Adding exercises to the rehabilitation program of patients with PH, especially with cognitive tasks, can be beneficial in improving their manual function.

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Abstract:

Purpose: Activities of daily living mostly require dual-task (DT) performance. Functional status in daily living activities in Parkinson’s disease (PD) may be affected from the interaction between motor and cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the effect of motor and cognitive DT on hand function in patients with PD . Methods: Thirty-three patients with PD aged between 50 and 80 years and age and sex-matched 32 healthy individuals were included in the study. A nine-hole peg test (NHPT) was used to evaluate hand function. Motor DT and cognitive DT were assessed using the rhythmic tapping of foot and seven subtraction tests during NHPT. The results of NHPT were recorded in seconds under single task, motor DT, and cognitive DT. The percentage of DT interference was calculated. Measurements were repeated for the dominant and non-dominant hand. Results: In the PD group, dominant and non-dominant hand function during both motor and cognitive DT decreased more than the control group (p<0.05). In both groups, cognitive DT decreased hand function more prominently than motor DT (p<0.05). When the DT interference percentages were compared, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of motor DT interference (p>0.05), whereas the interference in the PD group was higher in cognitive DT interference than the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Hand function of patients with PD decreases under DT conditions. The decrease is apparent, particularly during the cognitive DT. Among the rehabilitation objectives of patients with PD should also include the enhancement of DT performance during hand function. Addition of DT oriented exercises, primarily cognitive task, to the rehabilitation program of patients with PD, may be useful to improve hand function in patients with PD.