Design and Validation of a Platform to Measure Upper Extremity Functional Performance of Joints during Standard and Complex Tasks

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The variety, complexity and range of hand and arm movements provides a big challenge to biomechanical assessment. As well, activities involving the hand and upper limb are extremely versatile and can include different tools, grips and various gross and motor tasks. The long-term objective of this program of research is to develop a comprehensive biomechanical model of the hand and upper limb that includes muscle activity, skeletal kinematics/motion pathways and joint contact mechanics that can be used to examine the effect of real world contexts on the mechanical performance of the hand and upper limb. The short-term objectives proposed include to:******1. Determine the Contribution of the Trunk, Shoulder and Elbow in Stabilizing the Hand and Wrist***The body moves as a whole during complex tasks and requires multiple joints coordinating harmoniously. Recent studies examining rehabilitation programs for hand and arm function post stroke have suggested that the trunk contributes significantly to stabilizing motion of the hand and wrist. However, this model has not been fully developed and does not include the contribution the shoulder and elbow play in ***stabilizing the hand and wrist during function[1]. ******2. Determine Sex-linked Biomechanical Differences between Men and Women***Research has consistently reported differences in risk, injury mechanism and perception of pain between the sexes in various musculoskeletal injuries, but sex is not currently being considered in most studies of bone and joint mechanics and is not tradition in the field to test for similarities or differences between men and women.******3. Determine the Impact of Stabilizers of Hand and Arm Function on Joint Mechanics***Symptoms associated with musculoskeletal injury or trauma traditionally emanate from the joints themselves. Motion capture of the hand and upper limb will be combined with individual's joint structure obtained using x-ray computed tomography (CT) to examine the effects of ‘large loads' (of the upper extremity) (elbow, shoulder and trunk) on ‘small bones' (joint contact mechanics of the hand and wrist).******Novelty and Expected Significance of the Work***Current biomechanical studies investigating the hand and upper limb do not examine the hand and upper limb as a complex system of multiple joints and do not examine joint kinematics, muscle activity and joint contact mechanics comprehensively. Currently, there is limited knowledge of joint movement patterns when people are at work, rest and play. Understanding how people use their joints in situ is critical to our increased understanding of basic biomechanics. The research proposed starts from the macro level with in situ assessment of joint performance and ends with a detailed, task specific description of individual bone surfaces and joint interactions.