Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Technologies in Mobility Disorders

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Gerontechnology. A Clinical Perspective

Part of the book series: Practical Issues in Geriatrics ((PIG))

  • 213 Accesses

Abstract

Mobility is defined as the ability to independently move around in the environment; it is a strong prognostic marker for disability and mortality in the general population, and it is a key contributor to quality of life, especially in older age. The digital assessment of mobility has been recently recognized as pivotal endpoint for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions [1]. The normal aging process has been associated with several changes in mobility, including the global speed and ability to move but also specific modifications of gait and balance, two of the most basic movements of the human body [2]. Therefore, technology can already be considered as important for measuring mobility and its limitations, e.g., due to ageassociated diseases. This chapter will delineate why and how digital health echnology for diagnosis as well as determination of progression and treatment response in chronic age-related diseases will become an inevitable part of clinical management in the course of the next years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Simon U, Jaeger SU, Wohlrab M, Schoene D, et al. Mobility endpoints in marketing authorisation of drugs: what gets the European medicines agency moving? Age Ageing. 2022;51(1):afab242. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afab242.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Nutt JG, Marsden CD, Thompson PD. Human walking and higher-level gait disorders, particularly in the elderly. Neurology. 1993;43(2):268–79.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Paróczai R, Bejek Z, Illyés Á. Kinematic and kinetic parameters of healthy elderly people. Periodica Polytechnica Mechanical Engineering. 2005;49(1):63–70.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Rantakokko M, Mänty M, Rantanen T. Mobility decline in old age. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2013;41(1):19–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ko SM, Haussdorf JM, Ferrucci L, et al. Age-associated differences in the gait pattern changes of older adults during fast-speed and fatigue conditions: results from the Baltimore longitudinal study of ageing. Age Ageing. 2010;39:688–94.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. McGibbon CA. Toward a better understanding of gait changes with age and disablement: neuromuscular adaptation. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2003;31(2):102–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Maki BE, McIlroy WE. Postural control in the older adult. Clin Geriatr Med. 1996;12(4):635–58.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Cruz-Jimenez M. Normal changes in gait and mobility problems in the elderly. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2017;28(4):713–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chamberlin ME, et al. Does fear of falling influence spatial and temporal gait parameters in elderly persons beyond changes associated with normal aging? J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2005;60(9):1163–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Judge JO, Davis RB 3rd, Ounpuu S. Step length reductions in advanced age: the role of ankle and hip kinetics. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 1996;51(6):M303–12.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Murray MP, Kory RC, Clarkson BH. Walking patterns in healthy old men. J Gerontol. 1969;24(2):169–78.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Louis ED, Bennett DA. Mild parkinsonian signs: an overview of an emerging concept. Mov Disord. 2007;22(12):1681–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Brach JS, et al. Challenging gait conditions predict 1-year decline in gait speed in older adults with apparently normal gait. Phys Ther. 2011;91(12):1857–64.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Fritz S, Lusardi M. White paper: “walking speed: the sixth vital sign”. J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2009;32(2):46–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Morfis P, Gkaraveli M. Effects of aging on biomechanical gait parameters in the healthy elderly and the risk of falling. Anthropol Sci. 2007;115:67–72.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pirker W, Katzenschlager R. Gait disorders in adults and the elderly: a clinical guide. Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2017;129(3–4):81–95.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Mielke MM, et al. Assessing the temporal relationship between cognition and gait: slow gait predicts cognitive decline in the Mayo Clinic study of aging. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2013;68(8):929–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Matias R, et al. A perspective on wearable sensor measurements and data science for Parkinson's disease. Front Neurol. 2017;8:677.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Artusi CA, et al. Implementation of Mobile health Technologies in Clinical Trials of movement disorders: underutilized potential. Neurotherapeutics. 2020;17(4):1736–46.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Godinho C, et al. A systematic review of the characteristics and validity of monitoring technologies to assess Parkinson's disease. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2016;13:24.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Guo Y, et al. Sample size and statistical power considerations in high-dimensionality data settings: a comparative study of classification algorithms. BMC Bioinformatics. 2010;11:447.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Espay AJ, et al. Technology in Parkinson’s disease: challenges and opportunities. Mov Disord. 2016;31(9):1272–82.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Odin P, et al. Viewpoint and practical recommendations from a movement disorder specialist panel on objective measurement in the clinical management of Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2018;4:14.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Espay AJ, et al. A roadmap for implementation of patient-centered digital outcome measures in Parkinson's disease obtained using mobile health technologies. Mov Disord. 2019;34(5):657–63.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Coran P, et al. Advancing the use of mobile technologies in clinical trials: recommendations from the clinical trials transformation initiative. Digit Biomark. 2019;3(3):145–54.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Sánchez-Ferro Á, et al. New methods for the assessment of Parkinson's disease (2005 to 2015): a systematic review. Mov Disord. 2016;31(9):1283–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Pérez-López C, et al. Assessing motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease patients based on a single inertial sensor. Sensors (Basel). 2016;16(12)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Erb MK, et al. mHealth and wearable technology should replace motor diaries to track motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Digit Med. 2020;3:6.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Nutt JG, et al. Freezing of gait: moving forward on a mysterious clinical phenomenon. Lancet Neurol. 2011;10(8):734–44.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Bächlin M, et al. Wearable assistant for Parkinson’s disease patients with the freezing of gait symptom. IEEE Trans Inf Technol Biomed. 2010;14(2):436–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Maetzler W, Klucken J, Horne M. A clinical view on the development of technology-based tools in managing Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2016;31(9):1263–71.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Andrea Pilotto, Cinzia Zatti & Alessandro Padovani

  2. Laboratory of Digital Neurology and Biosensors, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Andrea Pilotto, Cinzia Zatti & Alessandro Padovani

  3. Department of continuity of care and frailty, Neurology Unit, ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

    Andrea Pilotto, Cinzia Zatti & Alessandro Padovani

  4. Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and Kiel University, Kiel, Germany

    Walter Maetzler

Authors
  1. Andrea Pilotto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cinzia Zatti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alessandro Padovani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Walter Maetzler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrea Pilotto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Care, Orthogeriatrics and Rehabilitation, Galliera Hospital, Genova, Italy

    Alberto Pilotto

  2. Neurology, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    Walter Maetzler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Pilotto, A., Zatti, C., Padovani, A., Maetzler, W. (2023). Technologies in Mobility Disorders. In: Pilotto, A., Maetzler, W. (eds) Gerontechnology. A Clinical Perspective. Practical Issues in Geriatrics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32246-4_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32246-4_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-32245-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-32246-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation