Movement Disorders and Smart Wrist Devices: A Comprehensive Study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Movement disorders encompass a range of conditions including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and tremors, characterized by diverse motor and non-motor symptoms.
• Smart wrist devices (smartwatches, wristbands, bracelets) are increasingly prevalent due to their affordability, user-friendliness, and non-invasiveness compared to other health monitoring sensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize research on the utilization of smart wrist devices for monitoring specific movement disorders.
• To analyze trends, methodologies, and challenges in the application of wearable technology for neurological condition assessment.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted following PRISMA-S guidelines, analyzing 130 selected studies.
• Data extraction included device models, user numbers, datasets, data types, algorithmic pipelines, and classification methods.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in research publications over the last decade indicates growing scientific interest in this field.
• Parkinson's disease is the most frequently studied condition, followed by epilepsy and seizure detection. Other disorders like Huntington's disease and ataxia are less represented.
• Despite advantages, current smart wrist device applications face challenges in effectively monitoring diverse movement disorders.

Conclusions:

• Smart wrist devices offer a potential low-cost, accessible solution for remote monitoring of movement disorders in daily living environments.
• Further research and technological advancements are needed to overcome existing limitations and fully realize the potential of wearables in neurological care.