A battery of tests for evaluating steadiness in clinical trials

A battery of steadiness tests measuring several different aspects of upper-extremity tremor has been developed to objectively evaluate tremor in clinical trials. 40 young-adult normal subjects, 20 older-adult normal subjects, 10 patients having Parkinson's disease and 10 patients having multiple sclerosis served as subjects to evaluate the battery of tests. For normal subjects, no important differences were found between performance by the dominant and the nondominant body sides. Males were found to be significantly less steady than females. Although tests conducted with the arm unsupported were invariant with age, tests conducted with the arm supported showed significant performance decrements with increasing age. In a recent drug trial, performance in the steadiness-test battery was found to correspond closely with qualitative assessments providing an indication that the tests are valid. It is emphasised that the steadiness test serve not as diagnostic tools, but as quantitative instruments reliable for measuring upper-extremity tremor.