Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsEdge :

2008 AUG 18 - (NewsRx.com) -- Research findings, 'Evaluation of ActiTrac (ambulatory activity monitor) in Parkinson's Disease,' are discussed in a new report (see also Parkinson Disease). According to recent research published in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences, "At present, the evaluation of Parkinson's Disease (PD) relies mainly on Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Other objective measures have been proposed, including functional studies, timed tests and ambulatory activity monitors (AAM)."

"We carried out a prospective study to analyze the utility and correlation of the AAM: ActiTrac with UPDRS scores and timed tests in patients with PD. We studied 28 patients with idiopathic PD (age: 62 ±11 years; duration of illness: 7.7 ±4.4 years; clinical stage 2.3 ±0.39). Motor evaluation included UPDRS and five timed tests: Purdue Pegboard test and those proposed in CAPIT protocol, pronation-supination (PS), finger dexterity (FD), movement between two points (MTP) and walking test (WT). Clinical evaluation was performed in off condition, at 9 a.m., (12h off their medication). Finally, ActiTrac was placed on the wrist (more affected side) continuously for at least 72h. ActiTrac activity was correlated (Spearman) with total UPDRS (r: -0.53, p<0.005) and motor UPDRS (r:-0.46, p: 0.01); UPDRS rigidity subscore (r:-0.52, p<0.01); UPDRS bradykinesia subscore (r:-0.48; p:0.01); FD (r: -0.47 p: 0.01), WT (r: -0.49, p<0.01) and Purdue test (r:0.54; p<0.01)," wrote Ruiz P.J. Garcia and colleagues, .

The researchers concluded: "ActiTrac seems to be a reasonably accurate method to evaluate motor activity in PD."

Garcia and colleagues published their study in the Journal of the Neurological Sciences (Evaluation of ActiTrac (ambulatory activity monitor) in Parkinson's Disease. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2008;270(1-2):67-9).

For additional information, contact P.J. Garcia Ruiz, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Dept. of Neurology, Avda Reyes Catolicos 2, Madrid 28040, Spain.

The publisher's contact information for the Journal of the Neurological Sciences is: Elsevier Science BV, PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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