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The Validity and Reliability of the Microsoft Kinect for Measuring Trunk Compensation during Reaching
Matthew H Foreman1, Jack R Engsberg1
1Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St. Louis, 4444 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108, USA.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 16, 2020
Summary
The second-generation Microsoft Kinect (K2) shows better validity and reliability for measuring trunk compensation during reaching movements compared to the first generation (K1). This suggests K2 is a more promising tool for assessing motor impairments after neurological injury.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Human Movement Science
Background:
- Trunk compensation is common in individuals with motor impairments, particularly after stroke.
- Low-cost motion sensors offer potential for measuring trunk compensation, but their accuracy is unproven.
- Validating these sensors is crucial for their application in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the validity and reliability of two Microsoft Kinect generations (K1 and K2) against a gold-standard video motion capture system (VMC).
- To assess the accuracy of K1 and K2 in measuring trunk compensation during reaching movements.
- To determine the suitability of Kinect sensors for quantifying trunk kinematics in individuals with neurological injuries.
Main Methods:
- Five healthy participants performed simulated trunk compensation reaching tasks.
- Trunk and limb kinematics were simultaneously recorded using K1, K2, and VMC systems.
- Validity and reliability were analyzed using statistical methods including correlation and Bland-Altman analysis.
Main Results:
- The K2 demonstrated higher validity and reliability for measuring trunk flexion and lateral flexion compared to K1, aligning more closely with VMC.
- Both K1 and K2 were highly valid and reliable for reaching range of motion, planar reach distance, and elbow flexion.
- Results for shoulder flexion and abduction measurements were mixed between the sensors.
Conclusions:
- The second-generation Microsoft Kinect (K2) is a more valid and reliable tool for measuring trunk compensation during reaching than the K1.
- K2 shows potential for use in applications aimed at assessing motor recovery after neurological injury.
- Further research should validate K2 with clinical populations, such as individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.
