Cited by 54Neurological disorders and treatmentsMotor Control and AdaptationBalance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

A noninvasive handheld assistive device to accommodate essential tremor: A pilot study

Open access
Pathak, Anupam, Redmond, John A., Allen, Michael, Chou, Kelvin L.·2014·Movement Disorders

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We explored whether a noninvasive handheld device using Active Cancellation of Tremor (ACT) technology could stabilize tremor-induced motion of a spoon in individuals with essential tremor (ET). METHODS: Fifteen ET subjects (9 men, 6 women) performed 3 tasks with the ACT device turned on and off. Tremor severity was rated with the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale (TRS). Subjective improvement was rated by subjects with the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S). Tremor amplitude was measured using device-embedded accelerometers in 11 subjects. RESULTS: TRS scores improved with ACT on (versus off) in all 3 tasks: holding (1.00 ± 0.76 vs. 0.27 ± 0.70; P = 0.016), eating (1.47 ± 1.06 vs. 0.13 ± 0.64; P = 0.001), and transferring (1.33 ± 0.82 vs. 0.27 ± 0.59; P = 0.001). CGI-S improved with eating and transferring, but not the holding task. Accelerometer measurements demonstrated 71% to 76% reduction in tremor with the ACT device on. CONCLUSIONS: This noninvasive handheld ACT device can reduce tremor amplitude and severity for eating and transferring tasks in individuals with ET.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1002/mds.25796

Cites

12 of 12 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

4 of 13 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Findingown data

    In ET subjects, CGI-S did not improve with holding task when ACT device on.

    “CGI-S improved with eating and transferring, but not the holding task.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data

    In ET subjects, TRS transferring task score improved with ACT device on compared to off (1.33±0.82 vs. 0.27±0.59, p=0.001).

    “TRS scores improved with ACT on (versus off) in all 3 tasks: holding (1.00±0.76 vs. 0.27±0.70, p=0.016), eating (1.47±1.06 vs. 0.13±0.64, p=0.001) and transferring (1.33±0.82 vs. 0.27±0.59, p=0.001).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    For the 11 analyzable subjects, accelerometer data indicated reduced tremor amplitude across all tasks, including holding.

    “Accelerometer recordings of these 11 subjects showed improvement in tremor amplitude for all tasks (Table 3, Supplemental Figure 2a), including the holding task.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The patients' intentional movements occurred well below the 2 Hz cutoff frequency.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The error from gravitational artifacts is small because the hand is mostly horizontal.
  • Findingown data

    Accelerometer data showed a 71-76% decrease in tremor when the ACT device was on.

    “Accelerometer measurements demonstrated 71-76% reduction in tremor with ACT device on.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The patients' intentional movements occurred well below the 2 Hz cutoff frequency.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The error from gravitational artifacts is small because the hand is mostly horizontal.
  • Findingown data

    In ET subjects, TRS holding task score improved with ACT device on compared to off (1.00±0.76 vs. 0.27±0.70, p=0.016).

    “TRS scores improved with ACT on (versus off) in all 3 tasks: holding (1.00±0.76 vs. 0.27±0.70, p=0.016), eating (1.47±1.06 vs. 0.13±0.64, p=0.001) and transferring (1.33±0.82 vs. 0.27±0.59, p=0.001).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 10
  • May combine two claims. 12
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Tremor suppression orthoses have also been studied; they work by mechanically stopping the tremor.

    “Tremor suppression orthoses also have been investigated10-12, which function by physically forcing a person's tremor to cease13.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim2 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [10] source

      The introduction and Section III describe a wearable orthosis that applies mechanical forces to suppress tremor, supporting the claim that such devices have been studied and act mechanically. Section III specifies that the aim is to decrease tremor amplitude, however, and the discussion reports reductions—not that the tremor ceases entirely. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [11] source
    • cites [12] source

      The Introduction (p. 1) describes a tremor-management orthosis that applies damping or inertial loads to the limb, supporting the claim that mechanical orthoses have been investigated for tremor suppression. It says this loading reduces tremorous motion, not that it forces a person's tremor to cease. The Discussion (p. 6) reports preliminary tests of the device's operation, not complete tremor cessation. (LLM, conf=0.87)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [13]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Limb weighting is often recommended as a non-invasive tremor management approach, yet it lacks strong supporting evidence.

    “Weighting the limb is a commonly recommended non-invasive way to manage limb tremor7, but has little evidence to support it8, 9.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [7] source
    • cites [8] source
    • cites [9] source

      The Results report a significant reduction in intention tremor in 20 of 31 patients, supporting limb weighting as a potential management approach. But the paper does not say weighting is commonly recommended or assess whether the overall evidence base is weak; its Discussion describes its own findings as confirming a significant reduction. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Tremor frequencies can range from 2 to 15 Hz, and larger tremor amplitudes tend to occur at lower frequencies.

    “While tremor frequencies can vary across a range between 2-15 Hz, higher tremor amplitudes correlate with lower frequencies6.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] source

      The Results and Discussion report an inverse relationship between tremor amplitude and frequency, particularly for more severe essential tremor. But the paper describes the dominant peak-frequency range for postural hand tremor as about 4–11 Hz, not 2–15 Hz (introductory passage indexed under Abstract; page unavailable). (LLM, conf=0.88)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    When the device was active, subjects reported no improvement in the holding task on the CGI-S, even though TRS and accelerometer measures showed marked improvement.

    “However, with the device turned on, subjects did not notice improvement in the holding task (based on CGI-S) despite the fact that both TRS and accelerometer measurements showed considerable improvement.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Accelerometer and video motion data were analyzable for 11 ET subjects, while excessive signal noise prevented use in four subjects.

    “Eleven subjects (9M/2F; mean age 70.5 ± 5.7 years; mean disease duration 30 ± 19 years) had accelerometer and video motion data that could be analyzed; four subjects had excessive signal noise discovered during post-processing that prevented their use.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    When the ACT device was off, a prominent acceleration peak appeared at the dominant tremor frequency, and this peak was much smaller when the device was on.

    “With the ACT device turned off, a strong acceleration peak at the subject's dominant tremor frequency was noticed, which was greatly reduced with the ACT device turned on (Supplemental Figure 2b).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The patients' intentional movements occurred well below the 2 Hz cutoff frequency.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The error from gravitational artifacts is small because the hand is mostly horizontal.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    For two subjects, severe dominant-hand tremor with DBS off made the ACT device ineffective, and they used the non-dominant hand instead.

    “except in 2 subjects whose dominant hand tremor was so severe with DBS turned off that the ACT device was ineffective. The non-dominant hand was used for these 2 subjects.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    By stabilizing the tremor while still permitting hand movement, the device may be more comfortable and easier for users to adopt.

    “Because our device stabilizes tremor while allowing the hand to shake, it has the added benefits of being comfortable and easily adopted by users.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The study assessed tremor only during spoon use.

    “Additionally, only tremor while using a spoon was evaluated.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Essential tremor produces action tremors in the upper limbs that can disrupt everyday activities like eating.

    “Essential tremor (ET) causes upper limb action tremors that may interfere with daily tasks such as eating1.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [1] source
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    Trial order for device-on and device-off conditions was randomized.

    “Subjects then performed each task with the device turned on and off, though the order was randomized.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    Both the subjects and the evaluating neurologist were kept unaware of whether the device was active.

    “In these trials, both subject and neurologist were blinded and not told whether the device was turned on or off.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The ACT device prototype produces no sound or palpable sensation that the user can detect when it is on.
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Surgery for ET is effective but is usually limited to patients with more severe tremor.

    “Surgical treatments are effective, but typically reserved for more severe tremor2, 3.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [2] source
    • cites [3] source
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Drug treatments for ET have variable effectiveness and can be constrained by adverse effects.

    “Medications for ET are variably effective and sometimes limited by side effects2.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] source
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductown data

    Tremor severity was assessed with the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale (TRS) while subjects were off medication.

    “Overall tremor severity was evaluated in each subject using the TRS5 while off medication.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Acceleration signals are treated as estimates of true segmental motion.

    “While this error is assumed to be small because the hand is mostly horizontal, the acceleration signals serve as estimates for the true segmental motion.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The patients' intentional movements occurred well below the 2 Hz cutoff frequency.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The error from gravitational artifacts is small because the hand is mostly horizontal.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Gravitational artifacts from larger hand rotations may have introduced error on the horizontal axes.

    “Gravitational artifacts for more pronounced hand rotations may have contributed to error on the horizontal axes.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The patients' intentional movements occurred well below the 2 Hz cutoff frequency.
    • The authors state this as an assumption: The error from gravitational artifacts is small because the hand is mostly horizontal.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Long-term acceptability is still unknown.

    “the acceptability for long-term use remains unknown.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
18 of 18
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The patients' intentional movements occurred well below the 2 Hz cutoff frequency.

    “assuming that the patients’ intentional motion occurred well below the 2 Hz cutoff frequency.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The error from gravitational artifacts is small because the hand is mostly horizontal.

    “While this error is assumed to be small because the hand is mostly horizontal”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The ACT device prototype produces no sound or palpable sensation that the user can detect when it is on.

    “The device prototype also does not emit a sound or cause a palpable sensation that can be detected by the user when turned on.”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • The dissemination and availability of tremor suppression robotic systems has been limited.

    “In practice, the dissemination and availability of tremor suppression robotic systems has been limited.”

    From Voluntary-Driven Elbow Orthosis with Speed-Controlled Tremor Suppression (2016) · cites this paper as Pathak et al., 2014

    The Introduction describes an ACT device developed for a pilot study, and the Discussion mentions other tremor-suppression orthoses. Neither section addresses how widely robotic tremor-suppression systems have been disseminated or whether they are available in practice (searched: dissemination, availability, commercial availability, and adoption). (LLM, conf=0.72)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Eating improvement is described two different ways

    Minor

    The abstract says the subjective ratings improved for eating, but a later discussion sentence says the opposite. These statements cannot both be true as written.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Rocon E, 2003, Assistive Technology—Shaping the Future, 827

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Pathak, A., Redmond, J. A., Allen, M., & Chou, K. L.
Affiliations
  • Lift Labs Design San Francisco California USA
  • University of Michigan (US)
Corresponding author
Chou, Kelvin L.
Venue
Movement Disorders
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-12-27
Volume
29
Issue
6
Pages
838-842
ISSN
  • 0885-3185 (ISSN-L)
  • 1531-8257
OpenAlex
W1792353540
Cited by
54
References
12
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4
FWCI
2.33
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Movement Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r44ns070438-03)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (U10NS044504, R44 NS070438, 5R44NS070438)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Neurological disorders and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention
Keywords
essential tremor, tremor amplitude, transfer tasks, accelerometer
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Movement, Pilot Projects, Psychomotor Performance, Self-Help Devices, Severity of Illness Index, Essential Tremor, Accelerometry

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-09-28.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-09-28.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review