Thoracolumbar Fascia Thickness in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Investigation of Thoracolumbar Fascia Thickness, Trunk Flexibility and Manual Dexterity in Parkinson's Disease Patients

The aim of this study is to examine thoracolumbar fascia thickness, trunk flexibility, trunk control and upper extremity skills in Parkinson's disease patients. Patients between the ages of 55-80 who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease by a neurologist and healthy individuals with similar demographic characteristics will be included in the study as a control group. Demographic information of the individuals will be recorded and clinical evaluations will be made. Staging of Parkinson's patients will be done with the Modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale (MHRS), and disease severity will be done with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Thoracolumbar fascia thickness of individuals in both groups will be evaluated with ultrasonography, trunk flexibility with the Active Trunk Range of Motion Assessment and Sit-Reach test, trunk functions with the Trunk Impairment Scale, and manual skills with the Purdue Pegboard Test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 50 and 80
• Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score between 24 and 30
• Diagnosed with Parkinson's by a neurologist
• MH&Y stage 2-3

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to communicate verbally
• Use of walking aids
• Elderly people with severe visual impairment, neurological disorders and/or congestive heart failure
• Older adults in whom exercise is not recommended.