title: Evaluation of upper limb sense of position in healthy individuals and patients after stroke.
abstract: The aims of this study were to develop and evaluate reliability of a quantitative assessment tool for upper limb sense of position on the horizontal plane. We evaluated 15 healthy individuals (controls) and 9 stroke patients. A robotic device passively moved one arm of the blindfolded participant who had to actively move his/her opposite hand to the mirror location in the workspace. Upper-limb's position was evaluated by a digital camera. The position of the passive hand was compared with the active hand's 'mirror' position. Performance metrics were then computed to measure the mean absolute errors, error variability, spatial contraction/expansion, and systematic shifts. No significant differences were observed between dominant and non-dominant active arms of controls. All performance parameters of the post-stroke group differed significantly from those of controls. This tool can provide a quantitative measure of upper limb sense of position, therefore allowing detection of changes due to rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS, Service of Bioengineering, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cusmano
authors.affiliation: IRCCS, Service of Bioengineering, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sterpi
authors.affiliation: IRCCS, Service of Bioengineering, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Veruno (NO), Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer and Systems Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramat
authors.affiliation: IRCCS, Division of Neurology, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Veruno (NO), Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delconte
authors.affiliation: IRCCS, Division of Neurology, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Veruno (NO), Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.affiliation: IRCCS, Service of Bioengineering, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Pavia, Italy IRCCS, Service of Bioengineering, "Salvatore Maugeri" Foundation, Veruno (NO), Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: neurorehabilitation; proprioception; sense of position; sensory system; stroke