American researchers have developed a technology for diagnosing and monitoring neuromuscular diseases that cause movement disorders:
- the device is based on video analysis coupled with an artificial intelligence system, all using a mobile phone,
- this approach allows for more detailed and sophisticated analysis than the simple timed tests currently available (walking or running 10 metres, getting up from the floor, getting up from a chair, etc.),
- 129 participants, including 28 with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, 58 with type 1 myotonic dystrophy and 43 healthy subjects, took part in the pilot phase to validate the tool,
- the test took only 16 minutes to complete.
The results were conclusive and showed a good correlation with timed tests.
