Hi, I think if you want to measure the moving distance of the worm, it is best to measure it using some software/camera/computerized equipment because it gives objective and reliable measurement. It is impossible to measure their movement using naked eyes with ruler on the eyepiece of the microscope because they are too tiny and this gives unreliable results if you want to publish your finding by saying that you are actually measure their movement / distance travel using manual method. I am not sure which software/equipment is the best in measuring the worms movement. My previous work focused on counting the worms number and their pharyngeal pumping and these 2 parameters have been scholarly accepted to be calculated / counted using manual methods like eyes.

Yes. The computer tracking software mechanisms employed by David Dusenbery at Georgia Institute of Technology provide a reliable and objective method for quantifying movement and reversal behavior of C. Elegans, as well as identifying attractant and repellent compounds.

hi,

It is difficult to calculate the distance traveled by worm manually. you need software for the same but you can calculate Head Thrashing and Body bending manually.

for this please refer worm book.

To measure C. elegans activity there are many parameters like pharyngeal pumping, locomotion, growth, lifespan assay, apoptosis assay, reproduction assay.

Related to ageing lifespan assay will be the preferable one for initial screening purpose...

Pharyngeal pumping and head thrashing can be done manually

For this sir you can refer "Assessment of behavioural toxicity in dichlorvos exposed caenorhabditis elegans"

Before assessment worms should be synchronized

For this protocol you can refer "Standardization of synchronization procedure to collect the similar aged c. elegans"

Hopefully this will be helpful for you

I lieu of computer tracking, a microslide topped with a layer of agar with an attractant well on one end can be placed on a grid for quantifying microscopically as grid units covered per unit time. Or, accumulating worms at a given point in a given time eliminates constant observation. CO2 anesthesia can be used to arrest motion for counting.