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Instructions

How to take the tapping test

About a minute to learn. Doing it the same way each time is what makes your history reliable.

Hand seen from the side, thumb and index finger spread wide apart
1. Open wide
Hand seen from the side, thumb and index fingertips touching
2. Tap together

The movement

Tap the tip of your index finger against the tip of your thumb, then open them as far apart as you comfortably can. Repeat as fast and as wide as you can for the full 10 seconds.

This is the finger tapping task used in the standard Parkinson's movement exam (MDS-UPDRS 3.4). TapChart measures your speed, how wide you open, whether taps fade over the 10 seconds, and how steady your rhythm is.

Step by step

  1. Find good light and sit down.Face a window or lamp, not away from it. Sit at a table so your arm is steady.
  2. Set up the camera at chest height.A laptop on a table or a propped-up phone works. Keep it still; don't hold it in your other hand.
  3. Show your hand sideways, 1½ to 2 feet from the camera.Rest your elbow on the table and turn your hand so the camera sees the gap between thumb and finger. Your whole hand and wrist should be in the picture, and the green dots on screen should follow your fingers.
  4. Press Start and wait for the 3-second countdown.The left hand is first. There's no need to hurry.
  5. Tap fast and wide for all 10 seconds.Don't stop early or pace yourself. If your taps get smaller or slower, keep going: that's information the test needs.
  6. Repeat with your right hand.Your result appears once both hands are done.
  7. Made a mistake?You can record a hand again before moving on, or delete the whole test within 15 minutes and take it again.

Do

  • Open your fingers wide on every tap
  • Keep only the tested hand in view
  • Keep the rest of your hand still; move only thumb and index finger
  • Test at a similar time of day, in the same place

Don't

  • Make small quick wiggles instead of full taps
  • Move your whole hand or arm toward the camera
  • Let your fingers leave the picture or turn your palm flat to the camera
  • Wear gloves or rings that hide your fingertips

Your first 10 tests set your baseline. After that, every test is compared with your own usual.

Start a test