Abstract
Use of the hand is vital in working life due to the grabbing and pinching it performs. Spherical grip is the most commonly used, due to similarity to the gripping of a computer mouse. Knowledge of its execution and the involved elements is essential. Analysis of this exertion with surface electromyography devices (to register muscular activity) and accelerometer devices (to register movement values ) can provide multiple variables. Six subjects performed ball gripping and registered real-time electromyography (thenar region, hypothenar region, first dorsal interosseous, flexors of the wrist, flexor carpi ulnaris and extensors of the wrist muscles) and accelerometer (thumb, index, middle, ring, pinky and palm) values. The obtained data was resampled “R software” and processed “Matlab Script” based on an automatic numerical sequence recognition program. Electromyography values were normalized on the basis of maximum voluntary contraction, whilst modular values were calculated for the acceleration vector. After processing and analysing the obtained data and signal, it was possible to identify five stages of movement in accordance with the module vector from the palm. The statistical analysis of the variables was descriptive: average and standard deviations. The outcome variables focus on the variations of the modules of the vector (between the maximum and minimum values of each module and phase) and the maximum values of the standardized electromyography of each muscle. Analysis of movement through accelerometer and electromyography variables can give us an insight into the operation of spherical grip. The protocol and treatment data can be used as a system to complement existing assessments in the hand.
Highlights
Gripping and pinching are basic functional exertions of the hand, and are used continuously in the activities of daily life and work (Murgia et al 2004)
An example of this is the three-tip tripod grasp to hold a pen in writing (Gentilucci et al 2003) and the spherical grip to move a computer mouse (Visser et al 2004), in both cases adapted to the shape of the objects
The participants performed the functional exertion using spherical grip
Summary
Gripping and pinching are basic functional exertions of the hand, and are used continuously in the activities of daily life and work (Murgia et al 2004). Office work involves different tasks based on functional gripping. An example of this is the three-tip tripod grasp to hold a pen in writing (Gentilucci et al 2003) and the spherical grip to move a computer mouse (Visser et al 2004), in both cases adapted to the shape of the objects. The movements made by the hand and arm during mouse grip have been analysed from different perspectives. The involvement of the extensors of the index and middle fingers in relation to the design of the mouse has been analysed on the basis of electromiographical findings (Lee David et al 2007). The study focused on the area of contact of the hand and wrist with the mouse (Kang et al 2012), as well as other elements of the arm
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