In Vivo Measurement of Wrist Movements during the Dart-Throwing Motion Using Inertial Measurement Units.

Gabriella Fischer,Maurizio Calcagni,Simone Balocco,Michael Alexander Wirth

doi:10.3390/s21165623

Abstract

Background: This study investigates the dart-throwing motion (DTM) by comparing an inertial measurement unit-based system previously validated for basic motion tasks with an optoelectronic motion capture system. The DTM is interesting as wrist movement during many activities of daily living occur in this movement plane, but the complex movement is difficult to assess clinically. Methods: Ten healthy subjects were recorded while performing the DTM with their right wrist using inertial sensors and skin markers. Maximum range of motion obtained by the different systems and the mean absolute difference were calculated. Results: In the flexion–extension plane, both systems calculated a range of motion of 100° with mean absolute differences of 8°, while in the radial–ulnar deviation plane, a mean absolute difference of 17° and range of motion values of 48° for the optoelectronic system and 59° for the inertial measurement units were found. Conclusions: This study shows the challenge of comparing results of different kinematic motion capture systems for complex movements while also highlighting inertial measurement units as promising for future clinical application in dynamic and coupled wrist movements. Possible sources of error and solutions are discussed.

Highlights

Kinematic motion analysis is widely used in clinical settings and research to determine the range of motion (ROM) of joints with the purpose of quantifying the degree of impairment of the joint, planning rehabilitation strategies, and assessing the effect of operative interventions [1]
The aim of this study is to compare an Inertial measurement units (IMU) already validated for basic motion tasks for the more complex combined wrist movements occurring during the dart throwing motion (DTM) with the current gold standard of motion analysis, an optoelectronic motion capture systems (OMC)
Since wrist mobility in the DTM plane plays an important role in the clinical evaluaSince wrist mobility in the DTM plane plays an important role in the clinical evaluation tion of wrist function, a task-specific comparison between IMU and OMC was performed of wrist function, a task-specific comparison between IMU and OMC was performed for the for the DTM with the intention of establishing a simple measuring tool for dynamic measDTM with the intention of establishing a simple measuring tool for dynamic measurement urement of the active ROM in the DTM plane

Summary

Introduction

Kinematic motion analysis is widely used in clinical settings and research to determine the range of motion (ROM) of joints with the purpose of quantifying the degree of impairment of the joint, planning rehabilitation strategies, and assessing the effect of operative interventions [1]. The wrist moves in an arch from radial-extension to ulnar-flexion during the DTM with most motion anatomically occurring in the midcarpal joint and the proximal carpal row remaining relatively immobile, which for example affects clinical decision making between different techniques of partial wrist fusion [2]. Wrist movements in this plane are unique to human wrists and have provided a significant evolutionary advantage [5,6].

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