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Achieving Coordination in Prehension: Joint Freezing and Postural Contributions
B. Steenbergen1, R. G. Marteniuk, L. E. Kalbfleisch
1School of Kinesiology Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
Journal of Motor Behavior
|December 1, 1995
Summary
This study on movement coordination found that grasping a full cup or using a non-preferred hand increases trunk movement for stability. This suggests a proximodistal organization in motor control strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Motor Control
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Understanding intersegmental coordination is key to motor control.
- Task and organismic constraints significantly influence movement patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how task (full vs. empty cup) and organismic (preferred vs. non-preferred hand) constraints affect intersegmental coordination during reaching and grasping.
- To examine the kinematic strategies employed under different constraint conditions.
Main Methods:
- Seven right-handed subjects performed reaching and grasping tasks with varying constraints.
- Kinematic data of arm, shoulder, elbow, and trunk movements were analyzed.
Main Results:
- During hand transport, a full cup led to reduced shoulder/elbow angular motion and increased trunk displacement, indicating a strategy to simplify control.
- During cup transport, the trunk contributed more significantly with a full cup and when using the left hand, enhancing movement stability.
Conclusions:
- The findings support Bernstein's concept of "fixating" body parts to solve movement problems.
- Results indicate a proximodistal organization of coordination, where proximal segments (trunk) compensate for distal segment (arm/hand) adjustments under constraints.