title: Automated assessment of cervical dystonia.
abstract: We developed an automated and objective method to measure posture and voluntary movements in patients with cervical dystonia using Fastrack, an electromagnetic system consisting of a stationary transmitter station and four sensors. The junction lines between the sensors attached to the head produced geometrical figures on which the corresponding aspects of the head were superimposed. The head position in the space was reconstructed and observed from axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. Four patients with cervical dystonia and 6 healthy subjects were studied. Each patient was representative of one of the typical patterns of cervical dystonia. The study allowed the authors to collect quantitative data on posture and range of motion of the head. This pilot study demonstrates the efficacy of the Fastrack system to objectively measure the head position in cervical dystonia patients.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri IRCCS Gussago, Gussago, Italy. ggalardi@fsm.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galardi
authors.forename: Silvestro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micera
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carpaneto
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scolari
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dario
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014103:Torticollis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology