Objective assessment of postural stability in Parkinson's disease using mobile technology. Issue 9 (25th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ozinga, Sarah J.; Machado, Andre G.; Miller Koop, Mandy; Rosenfeldt, Anson B.; Alberts, Jay L.
• Is Part Of: Movement disorders. Volume 30:Issue 9(2015)
• Page Start: 1214
• Page End: 1221
• Publication Date: 2015-03-25
• Subjects: Movement disorders -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.26214
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3185

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="mds26214-sec-1001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>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<sup>rd</sup> generation iPad, was of sufficient quantity and quality to characterize postural stability.</p> </sec> <sec id="mds26214-sec-1101" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="mds26214-sec-2101" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="mds26214-sec-3101" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>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</p> </sec> </abstract>