Faculty mentor/PI email address
pittonrissardo-jamir@cooperhealth.edu
Keywords
Wearable, technology, gait, balance, Parkinson's disease, movement disorders
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background: Wearable sensors and cue‑based technologies are increasingly used to augment rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the magnitude of benefit across clinical domains remains uncertain. Objective: This meta‑analysis aimed to quantify the effects of technology‑assisted interventions in PD. Methods: Randomized controlled trials evaluating wearable‑assisted interventions were systematically identified from PubMed. Outcomes included motor severity (Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part III), balance (Berg Balance Scale, Mini‑BESTest, POMA balance), gait speed, walking endurance, freezing of gait (FOG‑Q/NFOG‑Q), fear of falling, and quality-of-life (PDQ‑39/PDQ‑8). Meta‑analyses were performed using random‑effects models to account for between‑study heterogeneity. Statistical heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic. Results: Eight trials were identified, with seven included in quantitative analyses (experimental = 105; control = 103). Wearable‑based interventions resulted in greater improvement in motor severity (MD −2.16, 95% CI: −4.06 to −0.26; I2=0%) and balance (SMD 0.48, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.84; I2=18 %) compared with controls. No statistically significant differences were observed for gait speed (SMD 0.21, 95% CI: −0.11 to 0.52), gait endurance (SMD 0.54, 95% CI: −0.08 to 1.15), freezing of gait (SMD −0.24, 95% CI: −0.64 to 0.16), quality-of-life (SMD −0.29, 95% CI: −0.67 to 0.10), or fear of falling (SMD −0.16, 95% CI: −0.67 to 0.36). Conclusion: Intervention duration ranged from 2 to 12 weeks. Wearable and technology‑assisted interventions provide mild but clinically meaningful improvements in motor function and balance in PD, with less consistent effects on gait, freezing, and patient‑reported outcomes.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Nervous System Diseases | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment
Included in
Nervous System Diseases Commons, Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons
Wearable and Technology‑Assisted Gait and Balance Interventions in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis
Background: Wearable sensors and cue‑based technologies are increasingly used to augment rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the magnitude of benefit across clinical domains remains uncertain. Objective: This meta‑analysis aimed to quantify the effects of technology‑assisted interventions in PD. Methods: Randomized controlled trials evaluating wearable‑assisted interventions were systematically identified from PubMed. Outcomes included motor severity (Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part III), balance (Berg Balance Scale, Mini‑BESTest, POMA balance), gait speed, walking endurance, freezing of gait (FOG‑Q/NFOG‑Q), fear of falling, and quality-of-life (PDQ‑39/PDQ‑8). Meta‑analyses were performed using random‑effects models to account for between‑study heterogeneity. Statistical heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic. Results: Eight trials were identified, with seven included in quantitative analyses (experimental = 105; control = 103). Wearable‑based interventions resulted in greater improvement in motor severity (MD −2.16, 95% CI: −4.06 to −0.26; I2=0%) and balance (SMD 0.48, 95% CI: 0.12 to 0.84; I2=18 %) compared with controls. No statistically significant differences were observed for gait speed (SMD 0.21, 95% CI: −0.11 to 0.52), gait endurance (SMD 0.54, 95% CI: −0.08 to 1.15), freezing of gait (SMD −0.24, 95% CI: −0.64 to 0.16), quality-of-life (SMD −0.29, 95% CI: −0.67 to 0.10), or fear of falling (SMD −0.16, 95% CI: −0.67 to 0.36). Conclusion: Intervention duration ranged from 2 to 12 weeks. Wearable and technology‑assisted interventions provide mild but clinically meaningful improvements in motor function and balance in PD, with less consistent effects on gait, freezing, and patient‑reported outcomes.