A novel method for in-vivo evaluation of finger kinematics including definition of healthy motion patterns.
BACKGROUND
Despite recent progress in motion capture technology, such as stereophotogrammetry based on the tracking of markers set on the subject, it remains challenging to develop a complete protocol for in-vivo functional evaluation of the hand. The current practical problems regarding small anatomical segments, such as the fingers, are mainly due to the high concentration of markers in a relatively reduced volume.


METHODS
This paper proposes a novel procedure for hand functional analysis by analysing finger behaviour along the main displacement plane simultaneously with combined motions. The objective was two-fold. For one thing, a novel data collection protocol was implemented, which includes specific setting of the motion capture system and the development of finger marker clusters. The second purpose of this study was to create a reference database of a healthy sample for further clinical investigation. Twenty healthy volunteers took part in the study. Analytical motions (flexion/extension and abduction/adduction) of all five fingers were recorded.


RESULTS
Results showed good correspondence with the literature. Specific kinematic behaviour of each analysed joint is reported. Statistically significant differences were found between the right and left sides of the subjects for the flexion/extension movement only, between the finger joints and between the fingers for all movements. No significant difference was found between genders. A validation protocol was performed, which proved the validity of the presented methodology.


CONCLUSIONS
The protocol appears suitable for further use in motion analysis and for musculoskeletal modelling of the hand. It will also be considered for clinical application.
Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis (LABO), Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium. Electronic address: jcoupier@ulb.ac.be.
Jérôme
J
Coupier
Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis (LABO), Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium. Electronic address: http://homepages.ulb.ac.be/%7Elabo.
Samir
S
Hamoudi
Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis (LABO), Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium. Electronic address: http://homepages.ulb.ac.be/%7Elabo.
Sonia
S
Telese-Izzi
Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis (LABO), Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium; Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium. Electronic address: http://homepages.ulb.ac.be/%7Elabo.
Véronique
V
Feipel
Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis (LABO), Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium; Laboratory of Functional Anatomy, Faculty of Motor Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium. Electronic address: http://homepages.ulb.ac.be/%7Elabo.
Marcel
M
Rooze
Laboratory of Anatomy, Biomechanics and Organogenesis (LABO), Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Belgium. Electronic address: http://homepages.ulb.ac.be/%7Elabo.
Serge
S
Van Sint Jan
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Analytical motion; Finger kinematics; Functional evaluation; Reference patterns