title: Precision-Dependent Changes in Motor Variability During Sustained Bimanual Reaching.
abstract: Movement variability of the upper limb was investigated using a bimanual Fitts' task. Participants tapped rhythmically between target-pairs of different index of difficulties for three intervals of 20 min each. We studied the effects of index of difficulties and time-on-task on movement time, end-point variability, approximate entropy, and standard deviation of the relative phase. Lower index of difficulties and time-on-task caused decreasing movement time and increasing end-point variability. Moreover, standard deviation of the relative phase and approximate entropy moderately increased. By looking into the long-term effects of a sustained bimanual Fitts' task, this is the first time such movement variability increase is demonstrated in multiple variability indices. The relevance of the findings for future studies on work-related musculoskeletal disorders is being discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Radboud University.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: 1 Radboud University.
authors.forename: Ruud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meulenbroek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MSDs; approximate entropy; bimanual Fitts’ task; movement variability; repetitive movements