Quantitative Analysis of Motor Status in Parkinson’s Disease Using Wearable Devices: From Methodological Considerations to Problems in Clinical Applications

Abstract

Long-term and objective monitoring is necessary for full assessment of the condition of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent advances in biotechnology have seen the development of various types of wearable (body-worn) sensor systems. By using accelerometers and gyroscopes, these devices can quantify motor abnormalities, including decreased activity and gait disturbances, as well as nonmotor signs, such as sleep disturbances and autonomic dysfunctions in PD. This review discusses methodological problems inherent in wearable devices. Until now, analysis of the mean values of motion-induced signals on a particular day has been widely applied in the clinical management of PD patients. On the other hand, the reliability of these devices to detect various events, such as freezing of gait and dyskinesia, has been less than satisfactory. Quantification of disease-specific changes rather than nonspecific changes is necessary.

Upper limb motor pre-clinical assessment in Parkinson's disease using machine learning

“…Since the selected feature array is composed of parameters derived from all six exercises, the use of a comprehensive protocol that does not focus only on a single task is endorsed because it enables a complete analysis of the motor status of subjects, including both motor tasks and tremor analysis. According to literature, the selected feature array should be composed of parameters that are clinically significant and easily understandable for neurologists (e.g., number of movements, amplitudes, and velocities) to significantly enhance support to clinical practice [29,30]. Performances calculated from both hands or a single limb are comparable.…”

A Proposal for New Algorithm that Defines Gait-Induced Acceleration and Gait Cycle in Daily Parkinsonian Gait Disorders

“…devices: (1) motor disabilities, including axial disability (gait and transfer deficits, freezing of gait, imbalance, and frequent falling), bradykinesia in the distal limb, dyskinesia, resting tremor, dysarthria, and secondary low activity, and (2) non-motor clinical features, which include sleep disturbance and autonomic dysfunction [14]. So far, gait-induced accelerations and angular velocities have been used to assess gait akinesia and bradykinesia in PD [14,25].…”

Editorial

“…Many neurologic disorders lead to gait abnormalities include stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and numerous neurodegenerative disorders. 2,3 The use of gait analyses is not restricted to evaluation of walking pattern of individuals with conditions affecting locomotion and to plan their management but it continually serves to improve the person's ability to walk thereby maximizing function and maintaining/improving quality of life. Gait analysis has proved its utility in following areas:…”