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A prospective analysis of falls in Parkinson's disease: Does physical capacity moderate the relationship between walking amount and falls rates?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study design: Observational Study

Abstract: Falls are a significant concern for people with Parkinson's disease (PwP), often leading to restriction of walking activities to avoid situations where falls may occur. However, limited research has explored the relationship between walking amount (i.e., daily steps) and falls, particularly how this relationship may be influenced by physical capacity (i.e., gait speed). This study aimed to address that gap. Results indicate that higher daily step counts were associated with higher fall rates in PwP with moderate physical capacity, and lower fall rates in those with high capacity. The relationship between walking and fall rates was moderated by physical capacity.

Source: Journal of Parkinson s Disease

DOI: 10.1177/1877718x261418987

Authors: Ríona Mc Ardle, Lisa Alcock, Heather Hunter, Brook Galna, Alan Godfrey, Rachael A Lawson, Silvia Del Din, Alison Yarnall, Jochen Klenk, Lynn Rochester, on behalf of the ICICLE-Gait team

Institutions: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle University, Murdoch University, Northumbria University, Universität Ulm

Language: English

Topic: Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Subfield: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Institute for Health and Care Research, Parkinson's UK, Innovative Medicines Initiative, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre

Awards: G1079464942, G1147289410, Transforming the Objective Real-world measUrement of Symptoms (TORUS), G2244555550, G2276986836, G3046909538, G3967042023, Northern Health Futures Hub, Identifying modifiable psychosocial outcomes to maintain physical ACTIVity and promote independence in DEMentia (ActivDem study), G7453354274

OpenAlex ID: W7128813280

FWCI: 14.5

Cites: 43

Cited by: 1

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