title: Novel kinematic indices for quantifying upper limb ability and dexterity after cervical spinal cord injury.
abstract: Loss of motor function is a consequence after cervical spinal cord injury. Three-dimensional kinematic analysis equipments are used for quantifying human movements in clinical laboratories. These systems may provide objectivity to the patient assessments. Nowadays, the kinematic variables found in the literature have some deficiencies, and the efficient management of these data sets is a demand and a challenge in the clinical setting. The aim of the present paper is to propose a set of novel kinematic indices, as a combination of kinematic variables, for quantifying upper limb motor disorders in terms of characteristics in relation to ability and dexterity such as accuracy, efficiency, and coordination. These indices are defined for measuring patients' motor performance during the activity of daily living of drinking from a glass. This task is included within the upper limb rehabilitative process that patients receive. The main contribution of this research, with the aim of detecting upper limb impairments in patients, consists of the proposal of three kinematic indices from experimental data, whose results are dimensionless and relative to a pattern of healthy subjects. We hope that kinematic indices proposed are a step toward the standardization of the quantitative assessment of movement characteristics and functional impairments.
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Technical Aids Department, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda, s/n. 45071, Toledo, Spain. adlos@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Los Reyes-Guzmán
authors.affiliation: Occupational Thinks Research Group, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle (UAM), C/La Salle, 10, 28023, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dimbwadyo-Terrer
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Technical Aids Department, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda, s/n. 45071, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez-Nombela
authors.affiliation: Special Technologies Applied to Telecommunication Department, Higher Technical School of Telecommunications Engineering, Technical University of Madrid, University City, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monasterio-Huelin
authors.affiliation: Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), C/Doctor Arce, 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.affiliation: Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), C/Doctor Arce, 37, 28002, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics and Technical Aids Department, National Hospital for Paraplegics (SESCAM), Finca La Peraleda, s/n. 45071, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil-Agudo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Activities of daily living; Functional assessment; Kinematic indices; Neurological diseases; Spinal cord injury; Upper limb