Reachable workspace with real-time motion capture feedback to quantify upper extremity function: A study on children with brachial plexus birth injury. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Richardson, R. Tyler; Russo, Stephanie A.; Chafetz, Ross S.; Warshauer, Spencer; Nice, Emily; Kozin, Scott H.; Zlotolow, Dan A.; Richards, James G.
• Is Part Of: Journal of biomechanics. Volume 132(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Upper extremity -- Function -- Reachable workspace -- Brachial plexus -- Reach; Animal mechanics -- Periodicals; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Biomechanics -- Periodicals; Mécanique animale -- Périodiques; Biomécanique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 571.4305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110939
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9290

Abstract

Abstract: Clinical upper extremity (UE) functional assessments and motion capture measures are limited to a set of postures and/or motions that may provide an incomplete evaluation of UE functionality. Reachable workspace analysis offers a more global assessment of UE function, but is reliant on patient compliance with instructions and may result in underestimates of a patient's true UE function. This study evaluated a clinical tool that incorporates real-time visual feedback with motion capture to provide an innovative means of engaging patients to ensure a 'best effort' quantification of their available UE workspace. Reachable workspace for 10 children with brachial plexus birth injury was collected with and without real-time feedback on the affected and unaffected limbs. Real-time feedback consisted of subjects reaching for virtual targets surrounding their physical space using a virtual cursor controlled by the real-time location of their hand. Real-time feedback resulted in significantly greater workspace in multiple regions on both the affected (3/6 octants; mean differences 10.8%-20.0%) and unaffected (6/6 octants; mean differences 24.3%-40.0%) limbs. Use of real-time feedback also yielded significant interlimb differences in workspace across more regions (4/6 octants; mean differences 29.0%-39.9% vs. 1/6 octants; mean difference 17%). Finally, real-time feedback resulted in significant interlimb differences in median reach distance across more regions (4/6 octants; mean differences 7.5%-44.8% vs. 1/6 octants; mean difference 11.2%). A reachable workspace tool with real-time feedback results in more workspace and UE function recorded and offers a highly visual and intuitive depiction of a patient's UE abilities.