Use of Mobile Device Accelerometry to Enhance Evaluation of Postural Instability in Parkinson Disease.
Sarah J Ozinga, Susan M Linder, Jay L Alberts
PMID 27670925WHAT IT FOUND
A waist-mounted mobile device recorded body-sway movement as consistently as a lab force platform.
In mild to moderate Parkinson disease, its sway measures detected instability on hard balance tests when standard balance scores did not.
Key findings
01Mobile device sway acceleration measures matched force-platform sway acceleration measures across balance conditions.
02The mobile device was equal or superior to the NeuroCom system on repeat-trial reliability for all four sway measures.
03People with Parkinson disease had greater sway than controls on the hardest balance conditions, while standard Equilibrium Scores did not significantly differ between groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 14 people with Parkinson disease and 14 controls were studied, so the results are limited by small sample size. Most participants had mild disease, with median disease duration 4.5 years and average Hoehn and Yahr stage 2.4, so findings may not apply to more advanced Parkinson disease. The study tested standing balance tasks, not daily activities, falls, or treatment response. The analysis assumed the body moves above the ankles like a single rigid segment, which is a simplification.
Declared interests
The authors report having authored intellectual property related to the methods described.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that a mobile device has been proven to improve Parkinson disease balance care or prevent falls. The study tested measurement agreement and group differences in standing balance tasks, not patient outcomes.