Assessment of tremor: a new computerised tool for clinical practice.
The quantitative assessment of tremor represents the main difficulty in clinical evaluation. We developed a software package - T-Lab - for the biomechanical analysis of hyperkinetic movement disorders. This software can receive and elaborate data from an electronic device interfaced with a personal computer. The aim of our study was to verify the validity of the PC-aided method proposed in the routine assessment of tremor. We did this by a correlation (regression) analysis between the scores obtained by Webster's Amplitude Clinical Scale and the amplitude data by T-Lab and between EMG data and frequency measures of T-Lab. Forty-seven patients presenting with upper limb tremor were enrolled. Four series of data were obtained: two series for frequency and two for amplitude. A significant correlation between all sets of data compared was found. T-Lab represents a valid, objective and useful device of quantifying tremors in clinical practice.
Mancini
M L
ML
Department of Neuroscience, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. mlmancini@tautech.it
Bartolini
M
M
Tambasco
N
N
Gallai
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D014202:Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology