Quantitative Score for the Evaluation of Kinematic Recordings in Neuropediatric Diagnostics

Abstract

Using the complexity score we were able to quantify movement complexity in regard of the understanding of physicians. This could be useful for clinical applications.

Complementary thinking: future perspectives on the assessment of general movements

“…3,6 Most of the analyses focused on tracking multivariate interactions (or the lack thereof) in the kinematic chains of the upper and lower limbs. 4,7,8 Also, Kanemaru et al 5 proposed that a high correlation between limb velocities of at least two limbs might indicate a lack of normal variability. Indeed, lack of variability is the key feature of abnormal general movements.…”

“…7,8 So far, there are only data on five infants published where both methodological approaches were compared: the mean accuracy between visual Gestalt perception and computer analysis was 0.77. 4 More comparison studies are certainly needed. For the time being, computer-based analyses of quantitative general movement aspects cannot replace the visual Gestalt assessment of the quality of general movements.…”

“…Moreover, they note it requires well-trained and experienced observers. [3][4][5] But which diagnostic tool does not require training and expertise?…”

“…Others applied computer-based general movement analyses at the age of 3 to 4 months, 3,4,[6][7][8] when general movements appear as 'fidgety movements'. The Prechtl assessment of fidgety movements revealed a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 82 to 100% when predicting neurodevelopment.…”

“…1,2 During the last few years a number of computer-based movement assessment tools using optical flow meters 3,6 or electromagnetic tracking systems 4,7 have aimed to perform quantitative analyses of general movements, and thereby to discriminate more objectively between normal and abnormal movement patterns. Two-dimensional representations of general movements over time were derived from reflective marker signals 4,5,7 or -more convenient for the infant -directly from the monitor after placing infants on a special mattress during the recording. 3,6 Most of the analyses focused on tracking multivariate interactions (or the lack thereof) in the kinematic chains of the upper and lower limbs.…”