Upper extremity 3-dimensional reachable workspace assessment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by Kinect sensor

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Reachable workspace is a clinically significant indicator of arm function.
• Quantifying arm function is crucial for understanding disease progression in neurological disorders.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) significantly impacts motor function, including arm mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using a Kinect sensor to measure 3D reachable workspace in individuals with ALS.
• To determine the spectrum of reachable workspace in a cohort of ALS patients.
• To evaluate the concurrent validity of the Kinect-based reachable workspace measure against a clinical scale.

Main Methods:

• Bilateral 3D reachable workspace was captured using Kinect sensors for 10 ALS patients and 17 healthy controls.
• Workspace data were normalized to relative surface area (RSA) based on individual arm length.
• Concurrent validity was examined by correlating RSA with the ALS Functional Rating Score-revised (ALSFRSr).

Main Results:

• A significant difference in reachable workspace RSA was observed between ALS patients (0.579 ± 0.226) and controls (0.786 ± 0.069; P < 0.001).
• RSA showed a significant positive correlation with ALSFRSr upper extremity scores (ρ = 0.569; P = 0.009).
• Progressive decline in upper extremity function, indicated by lower ALSFRSr scores, correlated with a decreased reachable workspace.

Conclusions:

• The Kinect-based reachable workspace measurement is feasible for use in ALS research and clinical settings.
• This novel method provides a sensitive and objective measure of arm function impairment in ALS.
• The findings support the potential of this technology for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy in ALS.