Rapid tremor frequency assessment with the iPhone accelerometer

Abstract

The physician is often seeking more efficient ways of performing patient assessments. Currently, measuring tremor frequency requires expensive and bulky equipment. We propose the use of the in-built accelerometer of the iPhone via the iSeismo application for rapid measurement of tremor frequency. We use this device in a series of 7 different tremor cases, and show that the frequency measurements on the iSeismo graph closely match the more sophisticated EMG analysis during tremor. This is a preliminary confirmation of the usefulness of this device in the clinical setting for quick assessment of the dominant frequency component in a variety of tremors.