Techniques for clinical assessment of human movement

Conventional, clinically available techniques used in the measurement and analysis of human movement are overviewed in the first part of the article. I examine the data produced by these techniques in terms of information content and potential usefulness in assessing human movement. Consideration is given to the observation process and to specific techniques for determining temporal and spatial, kinematic, and kinetic variables. The techniques examined document the end result of the movement process, which limits the information content to a descriptive level. Of these descriptive variables, the temporal and spatial variables have the advantage of being much easier to obtain and interpret. In the last part of the paper, I review more complex methods of analysis. These methods enable the determination of mechanical energy levels and joint moments, which exposes the underlying biomechanics of the movement. Such information can be related to the causes of the movement disorder and can help to diagnose the abnormal movement pattern.