APDM (Advanced Physical Diagnostic Methods) is a leading provider of wearable sensor systems for movement disorder analysis and clinical gait research. Originally based in Portland, Oregon, the company was acquired by Movella in 2022 and continues to offer its industry-standard mobility assessment platform under the Mobility Lab brand[1].
APDM's technology has become a standard in movement disorder research, particularly for Parkinson's disease (PD), where quantitative assessment of motor symptoms is critical for disease monitoring and therapeutic evaluation[2].
APDM was founded to address the need for objective, quantitative measures of human movement in clinical settings. The company's founding team brought together expertise in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and clinical neurology.
The development of the Opal wearable sensor system represented a breakthrough in making laboratory-quality motion analysis accessible outside traditional motion capture laboratories. Prior to APDM's innovations, comprehensive gait analysis required expensive video-based systems available only in major research hospitals.
In 2022, APDM was acquired by Movella, a company specializing in sensors and software for movement analysis across healthcare, entertainment, and industrial applications. The acquisition positioned APDM's technology within a broader portfolio of motion sensing solutions, enabling continued investment in research and product development.
APDM's Opal wearable sensors are FDA-registered medical devices designed for quantitative movement analysis. The sensors are worn on the body (typically on the feet, ankles, wrists, and trunk) and capture motion data during various movement tasks[3].
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sensor Type | Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) |
| Components | 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis magnetometer |
| Sampling Rate | 128 Hz |
| Connectivity | Wireless Bluetooth |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours continuous recording |
| Weight | Approximately 25 grams per sensor |
| Dimensions | 45mm × 30mm × 15mm |
| Memory | Onboard SD card for standalone recording |
The standard APDM protocol involves placing sensors on:
This comprehensive placement enables calculation of over 200 distinct gait parameters, making it one of the most detailed wearable gait analysis systems available.
Mobility Lab is APDM's proprietary software platform that integrates with Opal sensors to provide automated analysis. The software automatically extracts key gait parameters without requiring manual processing[4].
The software generates comprehensive reports including:
APDM systems are used extensively in clinical research and patient care for:
APDM technology has become particularly valuable in Parkinson's disease research and clinical care[5]:
The system is used to monitor:
APDM supports rehabilitation by:
In elderly populations, APDM enables:
APDM technology is increasingly used as an objective endpoint in clinical trials for neurological disorders, providing:
APDM technology has been extensively validated in peer-reviewed research, demonstrating:
APDM technology has contributed to numerous research publications advancing understanding of movement disorders. The system enables researchers to:
Mancini M, et al. Validation of APDM mobility lab against gold standard motion capture. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 2017. ↩︎ ↩︎
Schlachetzki JC, et al. Wearable sensors in Parkinson's disease: evaluating disease severity and monitoring treatment response. Journal of Parkinson's Disease. 2017. ↩︎ ↩︎
Godinho C, et al. Quantitative gait analysis in Parkinson's disease: normative values. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2016. ↩︎ ↩︎
Horak FB, et al. Balance and gait correlation in Parkinson's disease: a mobility lab study. Gait & Posture. 2016. ↩︎
Moccia M, et al. Validation of wearable sensors for Parkinson's disease motor assessment. Sensors. 2020. ↩︎