Characteristics and Applications of Technology-Aided Hand Functional Assessment: A Systematic Review.

Ciro Mennella,Susanna Alloisio,Federica Viti,Antonio Novellino

doi:10.3390/s22010199

Abstract

Technology-aided hand functional assessment has received considerable attention in recent years. Its applications are required to obtain objective, reliable, and sensitive methods for clinical decision making. This systematic review aims to investigate and discuss characteristics of technology-aided hand functional assessment and their applications, in terms of the adopted sensing technology, evaluation methods and purposes. Based on the shortcomings of current applications, and opportunities offered by emerging systems, this review aims to support the design and the translation to clinical practice of technology-aided hand functional assessment. To this end, a systematic literature search was led, according to recommended PRISMA guidelines, in PubMed and IEEE Xplore databases. The search yielded 208 records, resulting into 23 articles included in the study. Glove-based systems, instrumented objects and body-networked sensor systems appeared from the search, together with vision-based motion capture systems, end-effector, and exoskeleton systems. Inertial measurement unit (IMU) and force sensing resistor (FSR) resulted the sensing technologies most used for kinematic and kinetic analysis. A lack of standardization in system metrics and assessment methods emerged. Future studies that pertinently discuss the pathophysiological content and clinimetrics properties of new systems are required for leading technologies to clinical acceptance.

Highlights

The complex anatomy of the hand is efficiently organized to carry out a variety of complex tasks required in every daily activity
The application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria led to 18 articles related to technology-aided hand functional assessment
This work presents a systematic review of featured technologies developed to Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA) and GoPro camera (GoPro Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA), support handsensor, functional assessment described in peer reviewed literature fiber optical electrical contacts,procedures, Hall effect sensor, magnetometer, piezoresistive published in the last decade

Summary

Introduction

The complex anatomy of the hand is efficiently organized to carry out a variety of complex tasks required in every daily activity. Adopting McPhee words, “hand use is a function of anatomic integrity, mobility, strength, sensation, coordination, age, sex, mental status, disease or trauma” [1]. Several injuries and disorders may undermine the physiological hand function, causing severe to subtle functional consequences in day-to-day activities. Pathological events, such as traumatic injuries, rheumatic diseases, metabolic disorders, neurological diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders may undermine hand ability to carry out successfully daily activities, with serious impact on social participation and health-related quality of life [2,3]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion