A method of monitoring rest/activity cycles. A small actigraph is worn by a patient to measure motor activity. It is used to clinically evaluate insomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, and restless legs syndrome.
The monitoring of body movements with a small device usually attached to the wrist or foot, used in sleep medicine (and sometimes in anesthesia or critical care medicine) to determine whether and how well a person is resting or sleeping. In sleep medicine actigraphy can aid in the diagnosis of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and periodic limb movements. It is used in anesthesia to determine depth of sedation (e.g., during recovery from surgery).