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Does Cup-Grip Type Affect Tremor among People with Essential Tremor?
Navit Roth1,2, Sara Rosenblum1
1The Laboratory of Complex Human Activity and Participation (CHAP), Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 10, 2021
Summary
Essential tremor (ET) affects daily activities. This study found grip type and measurement axis impact tremor performance, potentially aiding assistive device development for tremor suppression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomechanics
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological movement disorder causing functional disability in daily tasks.
- Understanding how grip variations and measurement axes influence ET performance is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the effects of different cup-grip types and measurement axes on the performance of individuals with ET.
- To identify correlations between cup-grip type, measured axes, and spiral drawing performance in ET patients.
Main Methods:
- Participants (20 with ET, 18 controls) performed tasks involving holding a cup with varied grips and drawing a spiral.
- Cup acceleration was measured using a triaxial accelerometer along X, Y, and Z axes.
- Deviation from steady position acceleration was computed to quantify tremor.
Main Results:
- Significant group differences in outcome measures were observed across all grip types.
- ET participants showed higher tremor in the horizontal plane (X, Y axes) versus the vertical (Z axis).
- Specific grips (on-the-handle vs. around-the-cup) and axes (X, Y) showed significant differences in ET patients.
- Correlations were found between grip measures and spiral drawing performance in ET individuals.
Conclusions:
- Measurement axis and grip type significantly affect the performance of individuals with essential tremor.
- Findings may inform the design of assistive devices for tremor suppression and personalized therapy strategies.
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