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Upper-limb kinematics of the presumed-to-be-unaffected side after brain injury
Takayuki Nakamura1, Beatriz C Abreu, Rita M Patterson
1University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77554, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the kinematics of the presumed-to-be-unaffected upper limbs of people with brain injury (BI) compared with people without brain injury (WBI) during reaching.
Method:
Seventeen people with BI with no apparent motor deficit and 17 people WBI were measured and compared. A six-camera motion analysis system was used to determine movement duration, average speed, and smoothness during reaching.
Results:
The group of people with BI was found to be significantly longer in movement duration (p < .0001), were slower in average speed (p < .0001), and had decreased smoothness (p < .0001) during reaching than the group of people WBI.
Conclusion:
The results suggest that people with BI may have undetected motor deficit in their presumed-to-be-unaffected upper extremities. Further research is needed to explore the upper-limb motor performance and the impact on function and safety.
