Measurement of Axial Rigidity and Postural Instability Using Wearable Sensors

Axial Bradykinesia is an important feature of advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). The purpose of this study is to quantify axial bradykinesia using wearable sensors with the long-term aim of quantifying these movements, while the subject performs routine domestic activities. We measured back movements during common daily activities such as pouring, pointing, walking straight and walking around a chair with a test system engaging a minimal number of Inertial Measurement (IM) based wearable sensors. Participants included controls and PD patients whose rotation and flexion of the back was captured by the time delay between motion signals from sensors attached to the upper and lower back. PD subjects could be distinguished from controls using only two sensors. These findings suggest that a small number of sensors and similar analyses could distinguish between variations in bradykinesia in subjects with measurements performed outside of the laboratory. The subjects could engage in routine activities leading to progressive assessments of therapeutic outcomes.