Interjoint coordination dynamics during reaching in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity16 @entity64 @entity1269
A technique is described that characterizes the dynamics of the interjoint coordination of arm reaching movements in healthy subjects (n=10) and in @entity1 who had sustained a left-sided cerebrovascular accident (n=18). All @entity1 were right-handed. Data from the affected right arm of @entity1 with @entity64 were compared with those from the right arm of healthy subjects. Seated subjects made 25 pointing movements in a single session. Movements were made from an initial target located ipsilaterally to the right arm beside the body, to a final target located in front of the subject in the contralateral arm workspace. Kinematic data from the finger, wrist, elbow, both shoulders and sternum were recorded in three dimensions at 200 Hz with an optical tracking system. Analysis of interjoint coordination was based on the patterns of temporal delay between rotations at two adjacent joints (shoulder and elbow). The data were reduced to a single graph (Temporal Coordination or TC index) integrating the essential temporal characteristics of joint movement (the angular displacements, velocities and timing). TC segments, duration and amplitude, were analysed. The analysis was sensitive to the differences in interjoint coordination between healthy subjects and @entity1 with arm motor deficits. In @entity1 , the temporal coordination between elbow and shoulder movements was disrupted from the middle to the end of the reach. More specifically, in mid-reach, all @entity1 had difficulty coordinating elbow flexion with shoulder horizontal adduction. In addition, @entity1 with severe arm @entity1269 had difficulty changing elbow movement direction from flexion to extension and in coordinating this change with shoulder movement. At the end of the reach, @entity1 with severe @entity1269 had deficits in the execution of elbow extension while all @entity1 had impaired coordination of elbow extension and shoulder horizontal adduction. In addition, active ranges of joint motions were significantly decreased in the @entity64 compared to the healthy subjects. Finally, TC analysis revealed significant relationships between specific aspects of disrupted interjoint coordination and the level of motor impairment, suggesting that it may be a useful tool in the identification of specific movement coordination deficits in @entity16 populations that can be targeted in treatment for arm motor recovery.
