While objective measurement is routine in clinical care of most conditions, this has not been the case for Parkinson's Disease. Recent innovations make objective measurement in Parkinson's Disease possible and its utility and how this should be assessed is discussed here. Areas covered: Whilst therapies are effective in Parkinson's Disease, symptoms fluctuate in relation to treatment over the course of the day. Objective measurement makes it possible to assess symptom control, whether treatment is required and whether it achieved control. Objective measurement makes it possible to consider targets for therapeutic control and to begin an assessment of the value of improved control. Evidence for the effect of improved measurement on outcomes is only beginning to emerge. As symptom severity relates to quality of life and costs, reducing clinical scores and fluctuations through objective measurement is in the interest of both the patient and the health system. Expert commentary: In broad terms objective measurement should be used to identify patients whose symptoms lie outside the target range and then to assess whether therapy was effective in bringing them into control. While this is relevant to all stages of Parkinson's Disease specific clinical situations where this had greatest impact are discussed.
Keywords: PKG; Parkinson’s Disease; bradykinesia; dyskinesia; measurement; outcomes; quality of life.