Validity and Reliability of Kinect v2 for Quantifying Upper Body Kinematics during Seated Reaching

Abstract

Kinematic analysis of the upper limbs is a good way to assess and monitor recovery in individuals with stroke, but it remains little used in clinical routine due to its low feasibility. The aim of this study is to assess the validity and reliability of the Kinect v2 for the analysis of upper limb reaching kinematics. Twenty-six healthy participants performed seated hand-reaching tasks while holding a dumbbell to induce behaviour similar to that of stroke survivors. With the Kinect v2 and with the VICON, 3D upper limb and trunk motions were simultaneously recorded. The Kinect assesses trunk compensations, hand range of motion, movement time and mean velocity with a moderate to excellent reliability. In contrast, elbow and shoulder range of motion, time to peak velocity and path length ratio have a poor to moderate reliability. Finally, instantaneous hand and elbow tracking are not precise enough to reliably assess the number of velocity peaks and the peak hand velocity. Thanks to its ease of use and markerless properties, the Kinect can be used in clinical routine for semi-automated quantitative diagnostics guiding individualised rehabilitation of the upper limb. However, engineers and therapists must bear in mind the tracking limitations of the Kinect.

External focus of attention enhances arm velocities during volleyball spike in young female players

“…Moreover, the SPM analyses revealed that athletes reached peak arm, forearm, and hand velocities quicker (sharper curve slope) when performing with an EF. Such changes portray spatial and temporal efficiency within the movement ( Faity et al, 2022 ), and reflect greater force generation ( Wang et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Moreover, higher peak velocities reflect greater neuromuscular activity with greater force generation when the athletes efficiently employ the proximal-to-distal coordination pattern ( Wang et al, 2018 ). Due to variable spatiotemporal conditions, volleyball players are required to rapidly react and execute the volleyball spike as fast as possible ( Zwierko et al, 2010 ; Faity et al, 2022 ). In addition, the volleyball spike is a multidimensional action that involves four phases consisting of wind-up, cocking, acceleration, and follow-through ( Reeser et al, 2010 ).…”

“…To this end, Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) provides in-depth information about point-by-point (time-series) movement sequences across the entire movement execution ( Penny et al, 2011 ). Indeed, SPM analysis is used for determining the time to peak velocity of tracked trajectories to discern the spatial and temporal changes of the movement, representing movement efficiency ( Faity et al, 2022 ). As such, using a SPM analysis may be particularly useful when attentional focus instructions relate to controlling the process of the movement over the course of movement execution.…”

New methods for the in vivo diagnostics of shoulder kinematics

“…Markerbasierte Bewegungsanalysesysteme sind zudem zeitaufwendig, teuer und aufgrund der Markerplatzierung fehleranfällig [17]. Messungen außerhalb des Labors sind nur schwer durchführbar [10,17], weswegen sie im klinischen Setting wenig Anwendung finden [10].…”

“…Der Kinect-Sensor (Microsoft) ist ein weiteres markerloses Bewegungsanalysesystem, das 3 Sensoren kombiniert (RGB-Farbkamera mit Infrarot-und Tiefensensoren), um die 3D-Position von Skelett-Landmarken zu erfassen [10]. Gute bis sehr gute Korrelationen mit einem markerbasierten Bewegungsanalysesystem wurden für die Abduktion bis 90°, maximale Außenrotation bei 0°Abduktion und maximale Innenrotation bei 90°Abduktion gezeigt [7].…”