Validity and Reliability of Upper Limb Functional Assessment Using the Microsoft Kinect V2 Sensor.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Human Movement Analysis

Background:

• Accurate assessment of upper limb function is crucial for diagnosing and managing various conditions.
• Traditional motion capture systems are expensive and complex, limiting their widespread clinical use.
• The Kinect V2 offers a potential low-cost alternative for motion analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the concurrent accuracy of the Kinect V2 system against a gold standard (Vicon motion capture) for upper limb functional movements.
• To assess the test-retest reliability of the Kinect V2 system for upper limb kinematic measurements.

Main Methods:

• Ten healthy males performed four upper limb functional tasks.
• Concurrent measurements were taken using Kinect V2 and Vicon motion capture.
• Kinematic data were analyzed for accuracy (CMC, RMSE, bias, Pearson's r) and reliability (CMC, RMSE, ICC) over two sessions.

Main Results:

• Kinect V2 demonstrated good accuracy for shoulder and elbow flexion/extension (CMC > 0.87).
• Moderate accuracy was observed for shoulder adduction/abduction (CMC = 0.69-0.82), with poor accuracy for internal/external rotation (CMC < 0.6).
• High test-retest reliability was found for most upper limb angular waveforms, angles at target achieved, and range of motion (ICC = 0.65-0.96).

Conclusions:

• Kinect V2 shows significant potential as an affordable and accessible tool for assessing upper limb angular waveforms during functional tasks.
• The system's high reliability makes it suitable for monitoring within-person changes in upper limb motion over time, aiding in tracking disease progression or treatment efficacy.