Introduction
Aim
Objectives
Hypothesis
Methods
Search strategy
Screening for eligibility
Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
---|---|
• Cohort study, case–control study, feasibility study, letter, case series or case report AND; • Study population includes people with motor neuron disease o(including any of the listed subtypes: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy, primary lateral sclerosis or progressive bulbar palsy) AND; • The device measures an aspect of motor system pathophysiology (such as movement, strength or impedance) OR; • The device output is used to assess progression of physical symptoms OR; • Gait analysis when focussed on progression or evaluation of declining function | • Not including any participants with any form of motor neuron disease • Paediatric or non-human study population • Review articles, conference abstracts, book chapter, poster or clinical trial • Electronic medical device is invasive or implanted • Device measures speech, respiratory function, energy expenditure, cognitive function or an aspect of disease unrelated to motor pathophysiology • Sensor output used for rehabilitative or assistive purposes (e.g. user–computer interface, communication aid and prosthetic) • Gait analysis focussed on identifying pathological gait, or differential diagnosis between neurological conditions |
Data extraction
Risk of bias
Results
Lead author | Total number of participants | Number of participants with MND | Information on disease subtype | Length of follow-up | Frequency of data collection | Function assessed | Motor sensor | Additional assessments | Comparison devices | Data on participant experience reported? | Company providing device | Cost of device |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andres (2017) [16] | 100 | 100 | No subtype data | 15 months | Every 5 months | • Upper and lower limb strength | • Accurate Test of Limb Isometric Strength (ATLIS) | • ALS-FRS(R) | None | No | ATLIS | No data |
Bakers (2021) [21] | 88 | 45 | 91% ALS 7% PMA 2% PLS | Single time-point | Not applicable | • Upper and lower limb strength | • Portable fixed dynamometer | • ALS-FRS(R) | Hand held dynamometer | No | Not applicable | No data |
Berry (2019) [13] | 23 | 22 | No subtype data | 6 months | Every 3 months | • Speech • Cognition • General functioning (self-reported ALS-FRS(R), communication and movement logs) | • Smartphone (Beiwe app) | • ALS-FRS(R) • ALS-CBS | Vital Capacity (Easy One portable digital spirometer) | No | Onnela Lab at Harvard University | No data |
Beukenhorst (2021) [22] | 8 | 8 | No subtype data | 3 months | 2-month-long time periods | • General activity calculated from location data | • Smartphone (Beiwe app) | • ALS-FRS(R) | None | No | Onnela Lab at Harvard University | No data |
Die Bie (2017) [23] | 10 | 10 | No subtype data | 12 months | Approximately every 3 months | • Upper limb function | • Reachable workspace (Microsoft Kinect) | • ALS-FRS(R) | Forced vital capacity (Puritan Bennett Renaissance II Spirometer) | No | Microsoft | $41 |
Esser (2011) [37] | 72 | 7 | No subtype data | Single time-point | Not applicable | • Lower limb | • Inertial measurement unit | • Gait • Walking speed and distance | None | No | MTx Xsens | No data |
Garcia-Gancedo (2021) [24] | 25 | 25 | No subtype data | 12 months | Every 3 months Wear sensor 3 days a month | • Upper limb function • Speech | • Accelerometer (MegaFaros) | • ALS-FRS(R) • Cognition and fine motor skills (9-hole peg test) | • Heart rate variability (Mega Fast Fix electrode patch) Digital speech capture (microphone and computer) | Yes (reported adverse events, impact on activity and sleep quality) | Mega Electronics | $595 |
Geronimo (2021) [25] | 30 | 30 | 84% ALS 14% PLS 2% PMA | Single time-point | Not applicable | • Lower limb | • Accelerometers | • Gait • ALS-FRS(R) | • None | No | MetaMotionR | $78 |
Godkin (2021) [36] | 39 | 5 | No subtype data | 7 days | Daily | • Upper and lower limb function • ECG | • Accelerometer | • Temperature • Sleep • Mood • Cognition • Rankin scale | • None | Yes (De-brief interviews to discuss experience) | ActivInsights GENEActiv Originals Bittium Faros | $226 |
Kelly (2020) [26] | 25 | 25 | No subtype data | 12 months | Wear device 3 days a month | • Activity • Heart rate variability • Speech | • Accelerometer (Mega Faros 180) | • ALS-FRS(R) | • Speech (digital data capture) • Heart Rate variability (Mega Faros 180) | No | Mega Electronics | $596 |
Londral (2013) [27] | 6 | 3 | No subtype data | 6 months | Every 3 months | • Upper limb function (typing ability) | • Accelerometer (BioSignals PLUX) | None | None | No | BioSignals Plux | $95 |
Londral (2016) [38] | 45 | 19 | No subtype data | 2–20 months | Every 4–6 months depending on progression | • Upper limb function (fine motor typing) | • Accelerometer | ALS-FRS(R) | None | No | No data | No data |
Montero-Odasso (2017) [28] | 500 | 40 | No subtype data | 36 months | Annually | • Lower limb function • Balance • Dual tasking (motor and cognitive tasks) | • Gait (GaitRITE® mat or PK Mas electronic walkway) • Accelerometer (GENEActiv) | • Neuro and ocular imaging • Neuropsychology (attention, executive, memory, speech production, language and visuospatial function) • Genomics | • None | No | GAIT Rite | $28,500 |
Oskarsson (2016) [29] | 27 | 10 | No subtype data | Single time-point | Not applicable | • Upper limb function | • Reachable workspace (Microsoft Kinect) | • ALS-FRS(R) | None | No | Microsoft | $41 |
Rutkove (2019) [30] | 141 | 111 | No subtype data | 9 months | Daily data collection for 90 days, bi-weekly for 180 days ALS-FRS(R) weekly | • Activity | • Activity and sleep tracker (Mi Band) • Smartphone app (ALS AT HOME) | • ALS-FRS(R) | • Spirometer (AirSmart) • Electrical impedance myography (Skulpt Scanner) Speech (ALS AT HOME) | Yes (REDCap survey on patient-reported experience) | Xiaomi | $29 |
Rutkove (2020) [12] | 113 | 113 61 in analysis | No subtype data | 9 months | Daily for 3 months, twice weekly for 6 months ALS-FRS(R) weekly | • Activity • Upper limb • Respiratory function • Speech | • Activity tracker (Mi Band) | • ALS-FRS(R) • Patient-reported outcome measures | • Hand grip (Camry Handgrip Dynamometer) • Slow-vital capacity (Air Smart) • Electrical impedance myography (Skulpt Scanner) Speech (ALS at Home app) | Yes (participant-reported survey on experience) | Xiaomi | $29 |
Schefner (2018) [31] | 106 | 46 | No subtype data | 8 months | Every 2 months | • Detect changes in muscle structure | • Myolex mView | • None | • NDD EasyOneVR Plus Diagnostic Spirometer MicroFet2VR hand-held dynamometer | No | Myolex | No data |
Trevizan (2018) [32] | 60 | 30 | No subtype data | Single time-point | Not applicable | • Evaluate finger motion | • Microsoft Kinect • Leap Motion Control • Touchscreen laptop | • ALS-FRS(R) | • None | No | Microsoft Ultraleap | $41 $247 |
Van Eijk (2019) [10] | 42 | 42 | 93% ALS 7% PMA | 12 months | Wear sensor 7 days every 2–3 months Questionnaires daily | • Activity level (time active, metabolic equivalent, vector magnitude and movement) | • Accelerometer (ActiGraph GT9X) | • ALS-FRS(R) • HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) • Weight | • None | Yes (participants rate burden on ten-point scale) | Actigraph | $238 |
Vieira (2022) [33] | 584 | 584 | No subtype data | Single time-point | Not applicable | • Speech • Accelerometer | • Actigraph GT3X devices | • ALS-FRS(R) | • None | No | Actigraph | $238 |
Type of device | Areas of functioning evaluated | Brand examples in included studies | Studies using |
---|---|---|---|
Activity monitor | • Heart rate • Personal activity • Breathing function • Stress • Sleep • Step count | Mega Fast Fix heartbeat sensor Mi Band Mega Faros Sensor | [24] [26] |
Accelerometer | • Activity periods • Wear time • Metabolic rate • Energy expenditure • Steps taken | Actigraph BioSignals Plux Mega Faros 180 MetaMotionR MTXsens GENEActiv Originals Bittium Faros | [27] [26] [25] [37] [36] |
Smartphone app | • Behavioural patterns • Sleep data • Social interactions • Physical mobility • Gross motor activity • Cognitive functioning • Speech production | Beiwe ALS AT HOME | |
Gait | • Functional walking • Temporal and spatial parameters of movement | MetaMotionR GAIT Rite MTXsens | [25] [28] [37] |
Movement sensor | • Reachable workspace for upper limbs • Fine motor skill on touch screen devices | Microsoft Kinect Leap Motion Control | [32] |
Spirometer | • Vital capacity | EasyOne AirSmart Puritan Bennett Renaissance II | [13] [23] |
Electrical impedance myography | • Biomarker of neuromuscular health | Skulpt Scanner Myolex mView | [31] |
Computerised microphone | • Speech capture | Not specified | |
Dynamometry | • Limb and grip strength | Accurate test of limb isometric strength (ATLIS) Portable fixed dynamometer (PFD) Camry handgrip dynamometer |