Three-dimensional evaluation of postural stability in Parkinson's disease with mobile technology.
Sarah J Ozinga, Mandy Miller Koop, Susan M Linder and 3 others
PMID 28527232WHAT IT FOUND
An iPad app at the waist recorded greater sway in Parkinson's than controls across six balance tests, especially eyes closed on foam and tandem on foam.
It can quantify direction-specific balance problems, not prove treatment works.
Key findings
01The Parkinson's group had significantly greater postural instability than controls across all six balance conditions and in each direction, with the combined CC-PSI score p < 0.01.
02The biggest Parkinson's-control differences were double-leg stance on foam with eyes closed and tandem stance on foam with eyes open; the smallest were double-leg stance on firm surface with eyes open or closed.
03The combined balance score correlated with clinical ratings of gait, freezing and postural instability, except tandem stance on firm surface with eyes open, but not with total motor score.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 54 people, 27 with Parkinson's disease and 27 controls, so it is a small validation sample. It was a cross-sectional measurement study, not a treatment trial, so it cannot show that the app improves balance, falls or function. The CC-PSI score was standardised against the same 27 control participants, so the reference range depends on this sample. The Parkinson's group had a mean motor score of 37 on medication and a mean PIGD score of 4, so results may not apply to all Parkinson's severities or medication states. The paper does not report test-retest reliability, home use, dropout or missing data.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that using the app improves balance or reduces falls. The study validated a measurement metric in 54 people and did not test any treatment outcome.