PD Instability Test Often Performed Incorrectly (AAN 2003)

Subject: PD Instability Test Often Performed Incorrectly (AAN 2003)

Date: 4/14/2003

E-MOVE reports from the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, held in Honolulu March 29-April 5 2003. Poster numbers, session numbers, and pages are from Neurology 2003;60.

An evaluation of pull technique in assessing postural instability in Parkinson’s disease
RP Munhoz, JY Li, P Piboolnurak, A Constantino, S Fahn, AE Lang
P05.150; A403

The pull test used to assess instability in Parkinson’s disease is often performed incorrectly, according to this report.

Sixty-six videotaped pull tests, performed by 25 physicians within an NIH-funded clinical trial, were rated independently by 4 raters. Aspects examined included instructions to the patient, positioning, and strength of pull. Physicians made an average of 1.3 errors (out of a possible 10) in each test, with only 8% performed without error. The most common errors were a too light pull, and standing too close to the patient. Two of the 4 raters judged that two thirds of the tests performed were not adequate for scoring the severity of PD.

The authors conclude, “Detailed training in the pull technique should be mandatory in preparing examiners for participation in clinical trials, especially those documenting progression of disease.”

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E-MOVE meeting reports are funded in part by unrestricted educational grants from these sponsors:
Gold Level: Bertek Pharmaceuticals
Silver Level: Amarin Pharmaceuticals
Bronze Level: Allergan Inc., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Schwarz Pharma

E-MOVE Editor: Richard Robinson, NASW, WE MOVE

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