Digital health metrics reveal upper limb impairment profiles in ARSACS
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Date
2023-05-15
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Data
Abstract
Objective
Adults with autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) often present with reduced upper limb coordination affecting their independence in daily life. Previous studies in ARSACS identified reduced performance in clinical assessments requiring fine and gross dexterity as well as prehension. However, the kinematic and kinetic aspects underlying reduced upper limb coordination in ARSACS have not been systematically investigated yet. In this work, we aimed to provide a detailed characterization of alterations in upper limb movement patterns and hand grip forces in 57 participants with ARSACS.
Methods
We relied on a goal-directed technology-aided assessment task, which provides eight previously validated digital health metrics describing movement efficiency, smoothness, speed, and grip force control.
Results
First, we observed that 98.3% of the participants were impaired in at least one of the metrics, that all metrics are significantly impaired on a population level, and that grip force control during precise manipulations is most commonly and strongly impaired. Second, we identified high inter-participant variability in the kinematic and kinetic impairment profiles, thereby capturing different clinical profiles subjectively observed in this population. Lastly, abnormal goal-directed task performance in ARSACS could be best explained by reduced movement speed, efficiency, and especially force control during precise manipulations, while abnormal movement smoothness did not have a significant effect.
Interpretation
This work helped to refine the clinical profile of ARSACS and highlights the need for characterizing individual kinematic and kinetic impairment profiles in clinical trials in ARSACS.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
448
Pages / Article No.
120621
Publisher
Elsevier
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
ARSACS; Digital health metrics; Impairment profiles
Organisational unit
03827 - Gassert, Roger / Gassert, Roger