Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42528864›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Effects of wearable devices on gait, balance, and motor function in people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qin Zhong, Duanyong Liu, Yiyong Xu, Gui Xiao

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Qin ZhongSchool of Nursing, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Duanyong LiuSchool of Nursing, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Yiyong XuSchool of Nursing, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Gui XiaoSchool of Nursing, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of wearable devices on gait, balance, and motor function in people with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across international and Chinese databases to identify relevant studies published from database inception through December 2025. Data were independently screened, extracted, and analyzed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 16. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the FITT principle, including intervention duration, weekly frequency, feedback modality, and device category. Results: A total of 13 RCTs comprising 380 participants were included. The meta-analysis revealed that wearable devices were associated with selective improvements in certain gait and motor outcomes among PwPD. Specifically, improvements were observed in several key measures, including walking speed [MD = 0.07, 95% CI (0.01, 0.12), Conclusion: These findings suggest that wearable devices may selectively improve gait (walking speed), dynamic balance (TUGT), and motor function (UPDRS-III) in PwPD, but evidence for and quality of life remains limited. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols are warranted to confirm these findings and guide clinical implementation. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251246681, identifier, CRD420251246681.

Indexed as

GaitParkinson DiseasePostural BalanceWearable Electronic DevicesHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicbalancegaitmeta-analysismotor functionParkinson’s diseasewearable devices

Identifiers

PMID42528864
PMCPMC13415929

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.