International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de réadaptation
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Pain in persons with mild-moderate Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study of pain severity and associated factors.
The aims of this study were to determine pain severity in persons with mild-moderate Parkinson's disease compared with healthy age- and sex-matched controls, and identify related factors, that is, demographic, disease severity, and functioning, of pain severity in the Parkinson's disease group. A cross-sectional study design was adopted to assess pain severity in 100 persons with Parkinson's disease and 47 healthy controls. Bodily pain was assessed using item 21 of the Short Form 36, whereas pain severity was determined using the entire Short Form 36 Bodily Pain subscale (score ranging from 0 to 100). ⋯ Poorer balance performance, a shorter disease duration, and poorer health-related quality of life were independently associated with pain severity. Pain severity is higher in those living with Parkinson's disease than controls, and severity appears to be associated with disease characteristics and overall health. Further research is required to assess pain origin in Parkinson's disease with the aim of developing targeted interventions.