title: A novel motion tracking system for evaluation of functional rehabilitation of the upper limbs.
abstract: Upper limb function impairment is one of the most common sequelae of central nervous system injury, especially in stroke patients and when spinal cord injury produces tetraplegia. Conventional assessment methods cannot provide objective evaluation of patient performance and the tiveness of therapies. The most common assessment tools are based on rating scales, which are inefficient when measuring small changes and can yield subjective bias. In this study, we designed an inertial sensor-based monitoring system composed of five sensors to measure and analyze the complex movements of the upper limbs, which are common in activities of daily living. We developed a kinematic model with nine degrees of freedom to analyze upper limb and head movements in three dimensions. This system was then validated using a commercial optoelectronic system. These findings suggest that an inertial sensor-based motion tracking system can be used in patients who have upper limb impairment through data integration with a virtual reality-based neuroretation system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics and Technical Aids, National Hospital for Spinal Cord Injury, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil-Agudo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics and Technical Aids, National Hospital for Spinal Cord Injury, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Los Reyes-Guzmán
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics and Technical Aids, National Hospital for Spinal Cord Injury, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dimbwadyo-Terrer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics and Technical Aids, National Hospital for Spinal Cord Injury, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Benito
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peñasco-Martín
authors.affiliation: Health Department, Indra Systems, Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernal-Sahún
authors.affiliation: Health Department, Indra Systems, Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Monteagudo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics and Technical Aids, National Hospital for Spinal Cord Injury, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Ama-Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Group, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pons
keywords: brain injury; grants-supported paper; inertial measurement; kinematic analysis; motion tracking; neural regeneration; neuroregeneration; neurorehabilitation; sensors; spinal cord injury; upper limb; virtual reality