Evaluation of upper extremity performance in patients with Parkinson's disease: comparison of Nine Hole Peg Test values with Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the "Nine Hole Peg Test" (NHPT) with "Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale" (UPDRS) in the evaluation of upper extremity performance. Materials and methods: Eighty seven patients with Parkinson's disease (28 F, 59 M; mean age: 63.6+/-10.4 years) were recruited in the study. The stage of the disease and intensity of the symptoms were assessed by a neurologist using the Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) scale and UPDRS. The NHPT was assessed by physiotherapists. Results: There was poor correlation between NHPT for the left side with UPDRS1 and UPDRS3 (item 20, 21-left) (p<0.05). There was moderate correlation between NHPT of the left hand with UPDRS2, UPDRS3, UPDRS3 (item 22-25-left) and UPDRS Total (p<0.05). There was poor correlation between NHPT of the right hand with UPDRS1, UPDRS3 (item 24-right) (p<0.05). There was a moderate correlation between NHPT of the right side with UPDRS2, UPDRS3, UPDRS Total, UPDRS3 (item 23, 25-right) (p<0.001). There was poor correlation between NHPT of both hands with H-Y scale (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our data indicated that the NHPT is consistent with other scales used in the clinical evaluation of patients with Parkinson's disease. We think that the use of NHPT should be generalized in clinical practice since it seems to be an objective, quantitative and practical method in evaluating motor skills of the upper extremities.