Upper Extremity Skills, Trunk Control, and Body Awareness in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is associated with impairments in upper extremity function, postural control, and sensory-motor processing that may negatively affect daily activities and quality of life. While upper extremity dysfunction has been extensively investigated, the potential contributions of trunk control and body awareness have received less attention. This cross-sectional observational study aims to compare upper extremity skills, trunk control, and body awareness between individuals with Parkinson's disease and healthy adults, and to examine the relationships among these variables within the Parkinson's disease group. The findings may improve understanding of factors associated with upper extremity performance and support the development of more comprehensive rehabilitation approaches for individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease * Age between 50 and 80 years * Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥21 * Modified Hoehn and Yahr Stage 2-3 * Stable medication regimen with no medication or dosage changes within the previous month * Ability to understand and follow instructions * Voluntary agreement to participate Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of another chronic neurological disorder * Orthopedic or rheumatologic conditions limiting upper extremity movement * Previous upper extremity or trunk surgery * Severe tremor or dyskinesia preventing participation in assessments * Significant visual or communication impairments interfering with testing