Translation, Adaptation and Validation of the European Portuguese Version of the NMS-Quest for Parkinson's Disease

INTRODUCTION

Non-motor symptoms are underrecognized features of Parkinson's disease that impair quality of life and increase mortality. In this study, we aim to translate, adapt and validate the European Portuguese version of the "Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire", which has proven to be a valid and reliable measurement tool of non-motor symptoms in other languages.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Acceptability was evaluated regarding the range of values, ceiling and floor effects. Reliability was measured in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and reproducibility (intra-class correlation coefficient). For criterion validity analysis, Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Part I domains' scores were compared to those of the "Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire". For convergent validity, correlations between the "Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire" and the Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Part III, Mini-Mental State Examination score, disease duration, and severity were obtained.

RESULTS

Seventy nine Parkinson's disease patients were recruited, with a mean age of 67.2 ± 10.7 years and a disease duration of 10.8 ± 8.8 years. The European Portuguese version of the "Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire" total score was free of significant ceiling and floor effects. With the exception of the cardiovascular domain, adequate overall internal consistency was achieved. The questionnaire domains and the corresponding Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson's Disease Part I dimensions were significantly correlated, although the total questionnaire score was modestly correlated with disease duration and severity, motor and non-motor symptoms severity and cognitive dysfunction.

DISCUSSION

This is the first study to translate, adapt and validate a widely used screening instrument of non-motor symptoms of European Portuguese speaking Parkinson's disease patients.

CONCLUSION

The European Portuguese version of "Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire" is a valid and reliable tool for screening nonmotor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Chiropractic Management of a Patient With Radial Nerve Entrapment Symptoms: A Case Study

Objective

This report describes the case of a patient with chronic radial nerve entrapment symptoms managed with chiropractic care. We propose a complementary functional neurologic assessment of muscle function in different positions that could reveal muscle dysfunctions absent with standard test position.

Clinical Features

A 45-year-old man presented to a private chiropractic clinic with a throbbing pain 5 cm above the right lateral elbow epicondyle radiating onto the back of the lower arm and increasing after using a mouse when working on a computer. A Mill test and a Cozen test created pain near the lateral epicondylitis. The use of complementary functional neurologic assessment for radial nerve entrapment showed changes in manual muscle testing after tests were done in different positions to increase the compression on the nerve.

Intervention and Outcome

Chiropractic management was performed, including myofascial therapy, spinal and proximal radioulnar joint adjustments, neural mobilization, and the use of a splint. After 7 days (2 treatments), the patient showed no elbow pain even if he worked on his computer using a mouse. After a 2-year follow-up, no recurrence was reported.

Conclusion

In this case of radial nerve entrapment symptoms, the patient benefited from chiropractic management using standard chiropractic, applied kinesiology, and neural mobilization techniques. The complementary functional neurologic assessment of radial nerve entrapment proposed revealed muscles dysfunctions absent with the standard test position. These changes in manual muscle testing were useful to determine the possible sites of entrapment in order to direct the therapeutic efforts to these locations.

Spine pathology in a girl with upper limb pain: A co-incidence or a causal relationship?

A 10-year-old girl was admitted to the Emergency Department due to a history of intermittent pain located in the left radiocarpal joint for a month, as well as in the interphalangeal joints of the left hand without any additional symptoms. Clinical examination revealed mild sensory deficits and diminished muscle strength of the left upper limb without any other pathologic findings. A Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan of the brain and spinal cord was performed, which confirmed a diagnosis of thoracic syringomyelia. We briefly discuss specific traits and diagnostic challenges of this entity in childhood. Our case highlights the difficulty in efficiently correlating a pathologic imaging finding with clinical neurologic symptoms and signs, as well as the value of a thorough clinical neurological evaluation. Furthermore, a clear discrimination of a causal relationship against an incidental co-existence of a radiological finding and a specific symptom is not always possible.