Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available Technologies
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. The accurate and continuous monitoring of these symptoms is essential for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Traditionally, c...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/12/3732 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850165067476107264 |
|---|---|
| author | Gabriele Triolo Daniela Ivaldi Roberta Lombardo Angelo Quartarone Viviana Lo Buono |
| author_facet | Gabriele Triolo Daniela Ivaldi Roberta Lombardo Angelo Quartarone Viviana Lo Buono |
| author_sort | Gabriele Triolo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. The accurate and continuous monitoring of these symptoms is essential for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Traditionally, clinical assessments have relied on scales and methods that often lack the ability for continuous, real-time monitoring and can be subject to interpretation bias. Recent advancements in wearable technologies, such as smartphones, smartwatches, and activity trackers (ATs), present a promising alternative for more consistent and objective monitoring. This review aims to evaluate the use of smartphones and smart wrist devices, like smartwatches and activity trackers, in the management of PD, assessing their effectiveness in symptom evaluation and monitoring and physical performance improvement. Studies were identified by searching in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Only 13 studies of 1027 were included in our review. Smartphones, smartwatches, and activity trackers showed a growing potential in the assessment, monitoring, and improvement of motor symptoms in people with PD, compared to clinical scales and research-grade sensors. Their relatively low cost, accessibility, and usability support their integration into real-world clinical practice and exhibit validity to support PD management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aa1dd3a8f2d34493926914d327cd09fc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-aa1dd3a8f2d34493926914d327cd09fc2025-08-20T02:21:50ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-06-012512373210.3390/s25123732Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available TechnologiesGabriele Triolo0Daniela Ivaldi1Roberta Lombardo2Angelo Quartarone3Viviana Lo Buono4IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, ItalyIRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, 98124 Messina, ItalyParkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. The accurate and continuous monitoring of these symptoms is essential for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. Traditionally, clinical assessments have relied on scales and methods that often lack the ability for continuous, real-time monitoring and can be subject to interpretation bias. Recent advancements in wearable technologies, such as smartphones, smartwatches, and activity trackers (ATs), present a promising alternative for more consistent and objective monitoring. This review aims to evaluate the use of smartphones and smart wrist devices, like smartwatches and activity trackers, in the management of PD, assessing their effectiveness in symptom evaluation and monitoring and physical performance improvement. Studies were identified by searching in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Only 13 studies of 1027 were included in our review. Smartphones, smartwatches, and activity trackers showed a growing potential in the assessment, monitoring, and improvement of motor symptoms in people with PD, compared to clinical scales and research-grade sensors. Their relatively low cost, accessibility, and usability support their integration into real-world clinical practice and exhibit validity to support PD management.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/12/3732Parkinson’s DiseasemHealthsmartphonesmartwatchactivity trackersUPDRS |
| spellingShingle | Gabriele Triolo Daniela Ivaldi Roberta Lombardo Angelo Quartarone Viviana Lo Buono Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available Technologies Sensors Parkinson’s Disease mHealth smartphone smartwatch activity trackers UPDRS |
| title | Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available Technologies |
| title_full | Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available Technologies |
| title_fullStr | Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available Technologies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available Technologies |
| title_short | Use of Smartphones and Wrist-Worn Devices for Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review of Commercially Available Technologies |
| title_sort | use of smartphones and wrist worn devices for motor symptoms in parkinson s disease a systematic review of commercially available technologies |
| topic | Parkinson’s Disease mHealth smartphone smartwatch activity trackers UPDRS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/12/3732 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gabrieletriolo useofsmartphonesandwristworndevicesformotorsymptomsinparkinsonsdiseaseasystematicreviewofcommerciallyavailabletechnologies AT danielaivaldi useofsmartphonesandwristworndevicesformotorsymptomsinparkinsonsdiseaseasystematicreviewofcommerciallyavailabletechnologies AT robertalombardo useofsmartphonesandwristworndevicesformotorsymptomsinparkinsonsdiseaseasystematicreviewofcommerciallyavailabletechnologies AT angeloquartarone useofsmartphonesandwristworndevicesformotorsymptomsinparkinsonsdiseaseasystematicreviewofcommerciallyavailabletechnologies AT vivianalobuono useofsmartphonesandwristworndevicesformotorsymptomsinparkinsonsdiseaseasystematicreviewofcommerciallyavailabletechnologies |