Actigraphy is a simple, non-invasive exam done with a small watch-sized bracelet that records the presence of movement and often ambient light.
The exam is conducted over a period of 7-15 days and allows the identification of sleep and wakeful moments during the day and night.
In this way, the doctor is able to get a picture of the trend of insomnia, the times of waking and sleeping, the duration of waking at night, the trend of awakenings and some possibly incorrect habits that alter the sleep hygiene (for example, the presence of prolonged daytime naps).
A further advantage of actigraphy is the possibility of measuring sleep taking into account working days and rest days, monitoring the patient according to his life habits and in the absence of factors that interfere with sleep characteristics.
In addition, actigraphy allows to evaluate circadian aspects, that is, the waking and sleeping times in relation to social habits imposed by the work environment or family loads.
The actigraphic tracing can then be easily evaluated by medical experts in sleep medicine, be used in the diagnostic phase or for the monitoring of therapy.