Understanding Finger Tapping In Parkinson's Disease
Finger-tapping tasks are widely used to evaluate motor function in Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly bradykinesia.
A healthcare professional can assess speed, rhythm, amplitude, and fatigue by watching you tap your index finger and thumb together repeatedly. Even slight changes in performance may signal disease progression or shifts in medication effectiveness.
Irregularities in finger-tapping tasks — such as reduced amplitude, increased hesitation, or inconsistent rhythm — can appear before more explicit changes in movement become noticeable.
Advancements in technology have expanded the precision and accessibility of finger tapping assessments. Smartphones, tablets, and wearable sensors can now record tap intervals, motion range, and variability with high accuracy.
These tools allow for more objective tracking of motor symptoms and can detect fluctuations related to medication timing, including 'on' and 'off' periods.
In clinical trials, finger tapping is frequently used as an outcome measure for evaluating new therapies. Its ease of repetition and quantification make it ideal for monitoring treatment effects over time.
Finger tapping is usually tested during office visits with a neurologist. Your neurologist may use a device to objectively measure tapping. In some cases, they may ask you to measure tapping at home using a specific tool.
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