Abstract
The current study evaluated the relationship between the grooved pegboard (GP) and upper limb motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). 125 individuals with PD from the SLF MDRC completed the GP and symptoms of PD were measured using the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS I-III). For the analysis an average of two trials of the GP was used, following the procedure outlined by Bryden & Roy 2005, and included both a place and replace phase. If the GP was not completed in 5 minutes participants were stopped and a second trial was not performed. Correlation analysis of subsets of the UPDRS and GP phases were undertaken to evaluate the relationship between GP and PD symptoms. Side specific motor symptoms were correlated with both phases of the GP (place r=.507; replace r=.422) for the less affected but not the affected limb. This finding is in line with previous work that suggested the GP place phase is reflective of contralateral striatal neuron loss on the less affected side (Bohnen et al. 2007). Rigidity and UPDRS III had the strongest correlations with the GP place phase (r =.539 to .645) for both limbs, while tremor had no relationship with GP. This suggests the GP place phase reflects rigidity and bradykinesia, two cardinal symptoms of PD. Implications will be discussed with respect to the relationship between the complex visuomotor control in the GP place phase and functional deficits reported by individuals with PD.Acknowledgments: Research Support: Parkinson's Society of Canada