Premium
Objective assessment of postural stability in Parkinson's disease using mobile technology
Author(s) -
Ozinga Sarah J.,
Machado Andre G.,
Miller Koop Mandy,
Rosenfeldt Anson B.,
Alberts Jay L.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.26214
Subject(s) - kinematics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , motion capture , parkinson's disease , balance (ability) , software portability , force platform , physical therapy , postural instability , population , medicine , computer science , simulation , psychology , motion (physics) , artificial intelligence , disease , physics , environmental health , classical mechanics , pathology , programming language
Abstract Background A significant gap remains in the ability to effectively characterize postural instability in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Clinical evaluation of postural declines is largely subjective, whereas objective biomechanical approaches are expensive and time consuming, thus limiting clinical adoption. Recent advances in mobile devices present an opportunity to address the gap in the quantification of postural stability. The aim of this project was to determine whether kinematic data measured by hardware within a tablet device, a 3 rd generation iPad, was of sufficient quantity and quality to characterize postural stability. Methods Seventeen patients and 17 age‐matched controls completed six balance conditions under altered surface, stance, and vision. Simultaneous kinematic measurements were gathered from a three‐dimensional motion capture system and tablet. Results The motion capture system and tablet provided similar measures of stability across groups. In particular, within the patient population, correlation between the two systems for peak‐to‐peak, normalized path length, root mean square, 95% volume, and total power values ranged from 0.66 to 1.00. Kinematic data from five balance conditions—double‐leg stance with eyes open on a foam surface, double‐leg stance with eyes closed on firm and foam surfaces, and tandem stance on firm and foam surfaces—were capable of discriminating patients from controls. Conclusions The hardware within the tablet provides data of sufficient accuracy for the quantification of postural stability in patients with Parkinson's disease. The objectivity, portability, and ease of use of this device make it ideal for use in clinical environments lacking sophisticated biomechanical systems. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society