AUTHOR=Lili Lamprini , Sunnerhagen Katharina S. , Rekand Tiina , Alt Murphy Margit 

TITLE=Quantifying an Upper Extremity Everyday Task With 3D Kinematic Analysis in People With Spinal Cord Injury and Non-disabled Controls

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.755790

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.755790

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Objectives
Upper extremity function after spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important factor for performance of activities of daily living. An objective assessment of upper extremity function preferably in purposeful daily tasks is essential in understanding its impact on real-life activities. This study aimed to identify which movement parameters of upper extremity measured by kinematic analysis during a purposeful daily task, are impaired in people with cervical or thoracic SCI. 
Materials and Methods
The study included 29 adults (mean 59.5 years, 9 women and 20 men) with cervical (n=19) or thoracic (n=10) established compete (n=15) or incomplete (n=14) SCI and 54 non-disabled controls with commensurable age and sex (mean 59 years, 15 women, 39 men). 3D kinematic data was captured with a 5-camera system during a standardized unilateral daily task (drinking from a glass). In SCI, the upper extremity functioning of each arm was assessed with Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Having a full score in ARAT indicated full functioning, a score less than 57 points indicated limited functioning. Kinematic data from full functioning arms (n=27) and limited functioning arms (n=30) in SCI where compared with the non-dominant arms (n=54) in controls.
Results
In the limited upper extremity functioning group, movement time, smoothness, arm abduction, wrist angle, trunk displacement and interjoint coordination, but not peak velocity of the hand, angular velocity of elbow and relative time to peak velocity, all differed from controls. In the full upper extremity functioning group, arm abduction alone was significantly different from controls. 
Conclusions
The findings demonstrate that apart from measures of peak velocity, kinematic measures of movement quality including movement time, smoothness, trunk displacement and joint angles are impaired in people with limited upper extremity functioning after SCI. The study provides robust results applicable to a representative population of individuals with established cervical or thoracic SCI. The results suggest that kinematic analysis might be useful for those with limited functioning in order to get a better understanding of the specific movement impairments in daily tasks after SCI.