Cinematographical Methods to Assess Associated Movements in Children

Abstract

This pilot study was conducted to test the usefulness of angle-angle diagrams and phase plane plots obtained through high-speed cinematographical methods for making graded assessments of associated movements in children. Kinematic data at the shoulder, elbow, and ankle joints of normal and motorically awkward children (5-7 years old) were obtained from digitized films of normal and heel walking trials on a motor driven treadmill. A computer program was developed to smooth, calculate, differentiate, and plot data. Angle-angle diagrams depicting simultaneous joint angular displacements of (a) shoulder versus ankle and (b) elbow versus ankle revealed graded differences in decoupling of joint motion, limb excursions, and joint range-of-motion changes between the 5-year-old, 7-year-old awkward, and 7-year-old normal subject. Phase planes of the shoulder, elbow, and ankle joint were obtained by plotting joint angular displacement against joint angular velocity. Differences in size, shape, and looping behavior showed the quantity of change and whether the changes were gradual or sudden. This noninvasive methodology and eventual standardization of angle-angle diagrams and phase planes could prove to be useful in providing more precise diagnoses of associated movements and other subtle movement disorders.

Gait Pattern Classification of Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

“…Results supported the hypothesis that the motoncally awkward subject ranked between the younger and older subjects on most of the variables studied. The authors believed that cinematography was useful in obtaining information on children who are physically awkward and suggest that standardization should occur for angie/angIe and phase-plane plot diagrams because of their usefulness in providing a visual pattern of the movement (Hsu et al, 1989). This particular study raised questions regarding the way children with DCD nomally wdk, as the associated movement patterns were an intermediate to an…”

“…Two kinematic studies (Hsu et al, 1989;Marchion et al, 1987) have looked at children's movement during a particular task. Both studies included at least one child with movement difftculties.…”

“…Included in the study by Hsu et al (1989) were some advantages of using cinematography as a means of data collection: it is noninvasive and requires no electrodes, wires, or any other apparatus other than paper joint markers attached to the subjects; multiple measurements involving more than one limb can be made in a single observation; and finally, the data can be digitized and stored for future analysis. Therefore, a biomechanical analysis of a movement skill, such as walking, would be usehl when studying children with DCD.…”

“…The second study was done by Hsu et al (1989) to investigate associated movernents in children. The researchers hypothesized that older children would show less associated movements than younger children.…”

“…The cameras were placed perpendicular to the plane of motion 14 feet away. Hsu et al (1989) used a Photosonics 1P 16 mm high-speed camera set at 100 frames per second mounted perpendicular to the treadrnill 12 feet away. Marchion et al (1987) had subjects perform a stationary hockey slap shot as hard as they could while the linear velocity of the puck and angular displacernent and angular veiocity of the hockey stick were measured.…”