title: Kinematic parameters of throwing performance in patients with schizophrenia using a markerless motion capture system.
abstract: Motor dysfunction is consistently reported but understudied in schizophrenia. It has been hypothesized that this abnormality may reflect a neuro-developmental disorder underlying this illness. The main goal of this study was to analyze movement patterns used by participants with schizophrenia and healthy controls during overarm throwing performance, using a markerless motion capture system. Thirteen schizophrenia patients and 16 healthy control patients performed the overarm throwing task in a markerless motion capture system. Participants were also examined for the presence of motor neurological soft signs (mNSS) using the Brief Motor Scale. Schizophrenia patients demonstrated a less developed movement pattern with low individualization of components compared to healthy controls. The schizophrenia group also displayed a higher incidence of mNSS. The presence of a less mature movement pattern can be an indicator of neuro-immaturity and a marker for atypical neurological development in schizophrenia. Our findings support the understanding of motor dysfunction as an intrinsic part of the disorder of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Polytechnic Institute of Porto, School of Allied Health Sciences , Porto , Portugal and.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sá
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Nuno B F
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Trigueiro
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Markerless motion analysis; motor abnormalities; motor immaturity; neurological soft signs; schizophrenia