Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the angular velocity of forearm pronation/supination movement in Parkinson's disease patients, as a quantitative measure of the bradykinesia. Thirteen Parkinson's disease patients ($64{\pm}11.0$ yrs, male:6, female:7) participated in the experiments. The subjects' both right and left forearms were scored by a rater according to rapid alternating movement of hands category in the UPDRS (unified Parkinson's disease rating scale) and the angular velocity of forearm pronation/supination was measured at the same time. As analysis parameters, RMS (root mean square) angular velocity and RMS angle were used. The parameters showed negative correlation with the clinical score (RMS angular velocity: r= - 0.914, RMS angle: r= -0.749). The RMS angular velocity of all clinical scales were significantly different one another except for the non significant difference between those of scale 3 and 4. RMS angle of scale 0 was significantly different from those of scale 2, 3, 4 and that of scale 1 was significantly different from those of scale 3 and 4. This suggests that RMS angular velocity can be used for a quantitative measure of bradykinesia in motor examination.