Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Kinematic Analysis Using 3D Motion Capture of Drinking Task in People With and Without Upper-extremity Impairments
Published on: March 28, 2018
Upper extremity kinematics during functional activities: three-dimensional studies in a normal pediatric population
Kyria Petuskey1, Anita Bagley, Estelle Abdala
1Motion Analysis Laboratory, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Northern California, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. kpetuskey@shrinenet.org
Insights
This study establishes a normative pediatric database for 3D upper extremity (UE) motion during activities of daily living (ADLs). This allows for standardized assessment of children with UE functional limitations.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Movement Science
Background:
- Limited upper extremity (UE) motion affects daily activities in children with various conditions.
- Three-dimensional (3D) imaging can quantify UE functional limitations but lacks standardized protocols.
- Defining normal pediatric UE motion is crucial for clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a normative pediatric database of 3D kinematic values for UE motion during activities of daily living (ADLs).
- To enable quantitative analysis and comparison of functional limitations in children with UE impairments.
- To facilitate the routine use of 3D imaging techniques in pediatric UE assessment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3D imaging techniques to capture multi-planar UE motion.
- Defined standard activities and nomenclature for UE movement.
- Collected kinematic data from a normative pediatric population during selected ADLs.
Main Results:
- Established a normative database of 3D kinematic values for pediatric UE motion.
- Provided a benchmark for comparing functional movements in children with UE limitations.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of using a standardized protocol for UE motion analysis.
Conclusions:
- The developed protocol and normative database enable standardized 3D assessment of pediatric UE function.
- This approach facilitates objective comparison of children with UE impairments against a healthy age-matched cohort.
- Future clinical applications can benefit from this standardized quantitative analysis of functional limitations.
Abstract:
Children with brachial plexus birth palsy, burns, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and upper limb malformations may have diminished ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) due to limited upper extremity (UE) motion. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques provide a way to document multi-planar functional limitations in the UE. These techniques have not been routinely used for this purpose primarily due to a lack of standardized protocols stemming from the complex nature of UE motion. Before 3D techniques can be routinely used for quantitative analysis and determination of functional limitations, standard activities and nomenclature for UE motion must be determined, and normal arm motion defined. This study establishes a normative pediatric database of 3D kinematic values during selected ADLs, enabling future comparisons with pathologic movements. Regardless of their underlying condition, children with limited UE function and ADL performance can be studied using this protocol and compared with this age-matched normal population.
