Ambulatory monitoring of sleep disorders

Background: Behavioural and functional activity monitoring has a long history in sleep research. The term Actigraphy refers to methods using computerized wristwatch- size devices (generally placed on the wrist, but also on the ankle or trunk) to record the movement it undergoes. Collected data are displayed on a computer and analyzed for change in rhythm parameters that in turn provide an estimate on wake-sleep parameters (such as total sleep time, percent of time spent asleep, total wake time, percent of time spent awake and the number of awakenings). Actigraphy provides a useful, cost-effective, non-invasive and portable method for assessing specific sleep disorders. The present review is an amalgam of current knowledge with proposed clinical application and for research of actigraph. Conclusion: Actigraphy cannot stand alone as a diagnostic tool for all clinical groups. Particularly so with those diagnosed with sleep disorders with significant motility or long catatonic periods of wakefulness during sleep.