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Lookup NU author(s): Megan Hanrahan, Professor Lynn RochesterORCiD, Dr Ríona McArdle, Professor Katie BrittainORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).Background: Mobility impairments in Parkinson’s disease (PD) significantly impact individuals’ physical health, independence, and psychosocial wellbeing. In this review, mobility loss is used to refer to altered or impaired mobility (eg, reduced gait, balance difficulties, freezing of gait), rather than a complete loss of mobility. These changes affect daily functioning and quality of life. Carers also experience significant burden as they manage mobility issues. Understanding the implications of mobility loss in PD is essential for improving support for both people with PD and carers. This review explores impact of mobility loss on perceived independence and psychosocial wellbeing in people with PD and carers, providing deeper insight into the broader emotional and social consequences of the condition. Methods: A systematic search of six health databases (Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science) was conducted using key terms related to mobility loss, independence, and psychosocial wellbeing in PD. Studies were included if they employed qualitative methods to explore experiences of mobility from people with PD and/or carers. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the NICE qualitative checklist, and reporting adhered to PRISMA guidelines. A meta-ethnographic approach was used to extract key themes and construct a comprehensive understanding of the findings. Results: Five key themes emerged: the struggle for independence and associated self-esteem, navigating personal relationships, perceived stigmatisation and social isolation, resilience and adaptation, and impact of mobility on carer wellbeing. Discussion: Findings highlight the need for comprehensive support systems that address the challenges of mobility loss in PD. Wearable technology presents a promising solution for personalised interventions. Future research should explore diverse populations of people with PD and include formal carers to develop a more holistic perspective of mobility-related challenges in PD caregiving.
Author(s): Hanrahan M, Wilson C, Rochester L, Keogh A, McArdle R, Brittain K
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology
Year: 2026
Pages: epub ahead of print
Online publication date: 07/01/2026
Acceptance date: 24/12/2025
Date deposited: 19/01/2026
ISSN (print): 0891-9887
ISSN (electronic): 1552-5708
Publisher: Sage
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/08919887251414664
DOI: 10.1177/08919887251414664
Data Access Statement: Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed for this study
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