Quantitative assessment of hand function in healthy subjects and post-stroke patients with the action research arm test

The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) can provide subjective results due to the difficulty assessing abnormal patterns in stroke patients. The aim of this study was to identify joint impairments and compensatory grasping strategies in stroke patients with left (LH) and right (RH) hemiparesis. An experimental study was carried out with 12 patients six months after a stroke (three women and nine men, mean age: 65.2 ± 9.3 years), and 25 healthy subjects (14 women and 11 men, mean age: 40.2 ± 18.1 years. The subjects were evaluated during the performance of the ARAT using a data glove. Stroke patients with LH and RH showed significantly lower flexion angles in the MCP joints of the Index and Middle fingers than the Control group. However, RH patients showed larger flexion angles in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the Index, Middle, Ring, and Little fingers. In contrast, LH patients showed larger flexion angles in the PIP joints of the Middle and Little fingers. Therefore, the results showed that RH and LH patients used compensatory strategies involving increased flexion at the PIP joints for decreased flexion in the MCP joints. The integration of a data glove during the performance of the ARAT allows the detection of finger joint impairments in stroke patients that are not visible from ARAT scores. Therefore, the results presented are of clinical relevancePeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Hand motion analysis during the execution of the action research arm test using multiple sensors

The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) is a standardized outcome measure that can be improved by integrating sensors for hand motion analysis. The purpose of this study is to measure the flexion angle of the finger joints and fingertip forces during the performance of three subscales (Grasp, Grip, and Pinch) of the ARAT, using a data glove (CyberGlove II®) and five force-sensing resistors (FSRs) simultaneously. An experimental study was carried out with 25 healthy subjects (right-handed). The results showed that the mean flexion angles of the finger joints required to perform the 16 activities were Thumb (Carpometacarpal Joint (CMC) 28.56°, Metacarpophalangeal Joint (MCP) 26.84°, and Interphalangeal Joint (IP) 13.23°), Index (MCP 46.18°, Index Proximal Interphalangeal Joint (PIP) 38.89°), Middle (MCP 47.5°, PIP 42.62°), Ring (MCP 44.09°, PIP 39.22°), and Little (MCP 31.50°, PIP 22.10°). The averaged fingertip force exerted in the Grasp Subscale was 8.2 N, in Grip subscale 6.61 N and Pinch subscale 3.89 N. These results suggest that the integration of multiple sensors during the performance of the ARAT has clinical relevance, allowing therapists and other health professionals to perform a more sensitive, objective, and quantitative assessment of the hand function.Postprint (published version

Evaluación del novimiento de la mano mediante el controlador Leap motion

En los últimos años se han realizado distintas investigaciones sobre el análisis del movimiento de la mano humana mediante el uso de diversos sensores, en áreas como los son: robótica, ingeniería biomédica, biomecánica e interacción hombre-ordenador (HCI). En este trabajo se propone la utilización del controlador Leap Motion (LMC), como una herramienta para analizar y evaluar el movimiento de la mano humana con el objetivo de que médicos y terapeutas puedan brindar una mejor atención en el proceso de rehabilitación de la mano. El sistema permite la adquisición de datos en tiempo real como lo son: la posición de la mano y el ángulo de las falanges distales, medias y proximales de cada uno de los dedos de la mano. Se realizó un estudio experimental con tres sujetos mayores de dieciocho años, diestros, sin ninguna lesión en sus manos, con el objetivo de probar y evaluar el rendimiento del sistema propuesto. Los resultados demuestran que el sistema diseñado tiene un buen desempeño realizando una correcta adquisición de datos. La siguiente etapa del proyecto consiste en evaluar a pacientes que hayan tenido alguna lesión en alguna de sus articulaciones. Este sistema puede convertirse en una herramienta innovadora para médicos y terapeutas en el proceso de rehabilitación médica.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version