Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties Analysis
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder commonly marked by upper limb tremors that interfere with daily activities. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, represent a promising solution for continuous and objective monitoring in PD. This study aimed to develop and validate a tremor...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4313 |
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| author | Giulia Palermo Schifino Maira Jaqueline da Cunha Ritchele Redivo Marchese Vinicius Mabília Luis Henrique Amoedo Vian Francisca dos Santos Pereira Veronica Cimolin Aline Souza Pagnussat |
| author_facet | Giulia Palermo Schifino Maira Jaqueline da Cunha Ritchele Redivo Marchese Vinicius Mabília Luis Henrique Amoedo Vian Francisca dos Santos Pereira Veronica Cimolin Aline Souza Pagnussat |
| author_sort | Giulia Palermo Schifino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder commonly marked by upper limb tremors that interfere with daily activities. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, represent a promising solution for continuous and objective monitoring in PD. This study aimed to develop and validate a tremor-detection algorithm using smartwatch sensors. Data were collected from 21 individuals with PD and 27 healthy controls using both a commercial inertial measurement unit (G-Sensor, BTS Bioengineering, Italy) and a smartwatch (Apple Watch Series 3). Participants performed standardized arm movements while sensor signals were synchronized and processed to extract relevant features. Statistical analyses assessed discriminant and concurrent validity, reliability, and accuracy. The algorithm demonstrated moderate to strong correlations between smartwatch and commercial IMU data, effectively distinguishing individuals with PD from healthy controls showing associations with clinical measures, such as the MDS-UPDRS III. Reliability analysis demonstrated agreement between repeated measurements, although a proportional bias was noted. Power spectral density (PSD) analysis of accelerometer and gyroscope data along the <i>x</i>-axis successfully detected the presence of tremors. These findings support the use of smartwatches as a tool for detecting tremors in PD. However, further studies involving larger and more clinically impaired samples are needed to confirm the robustness and generalizability of these results. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a2a821d97e8c48808e346e6d24b70cfe |
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| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-a2a821d97e8c48808e346e6d24b70cfe2025-07-25T13:36:00ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-07-012514431310.3390/s25144313Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties AnalysisGiulia Palermo Schifino0Maira Jaqueline da Cunha1Ritchele Redivo Marchese2Vinicius Mabília3Luis Henrique Amoedo Vian4Francisca dos Santos Pereira5Veronica Cimolin6Aline Souza Pagnussat7Movement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, BrazilMovement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, BrazilMovement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, BrazilMovement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, BrazilMovement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, BrazilMovement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, BrazilDepartment of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milan, ItalyMovement Analysis and Rehabilitation Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre 90050-170, BrazilParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder commonly marked by upper limb tremors that interfere with daily activities. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches, represent a promising solution for continuous and objective monitoring in PD. This study aimed to develop and validate a tremor-detection algorithm using smartwatch sensors. Data were collected from 21 individuals with PD and 27 healthy controls using both a commercial inertial measurement unit (G-Sensor, BTS Bioengineering, Italy) and a smartwatch (Apple Watch Series 3). Participants performed standardized arm movements while sensor signals were synchronized and processed to extract relevant features. Statistical analyses assessed discriminant and concurrent validity, reliability, and accuracy. The algorithm demonstrated moderate to strong correlations between smartwatch and commercial IMU data, effectively distinguishing individuals with PD from healthy controls showing associations with clinical measures, such as the MDS-UPDRS III. Reliability analysis demonstrated agreement between repeated measurements, although a proportional bias was noted. Power spectral density (PSD) analysis of accelerometer and gyroscope data along the <i>x</i>-axis successfully detected the presence of tremors. These findings support the use of smartwatches as a tool for detecting tremors in PD. However, further studies involving larger and more clinically impaired samples are needed to confirm the robustness and generalizability of these results.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4313Parkinson’s diseasetremorsmartwatchwearable sensorsinertial measurement unitspectral analysis |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Palermo Schifino Maira Jaqueline da Cunha Ritchele Redivo Marchese Vinicius Mabília Luis Henrique Amoedo Vian Francisca dos Santos Pereira Veronica Cimolin Aline Souza Pagnussat Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties Analysis Sensors Parkinson’s disease tremor smartwatch wearable sensors inertial measurement unit spectral analysis |
| title | Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties Analysis |
| title_full | Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties Analysis |
| title_short | Smart Watch Sensors for Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease—Algorithm Development and Measurement Properties Analysis |
| title_sort | smart watch sensors for tremor assessment in parkinson s disease algorithm development and measurement properties analysis |
| topic | Parkinson’s disease tremor smartwatch wearable sensors inertial measurement unit spectral analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/14/4313 |
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