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Quantification of age-related differences in reaching and circle-drawing using a robotic rehabilitation device

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Pacilli, Alessandra; | Germanotta, Marco; | Rossi, Stefano; | Cappa, Paolo;

Affiliations: DIMA, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy | MARLab, Movement Analysis and Robotics Laboratory, Neurorehabilitation Division, IRCCS Children's Hospital “Bambino Gesù”, Rome, Italy | DEIM, Department of Economics and Management – Industrial Engineering, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

Note: [] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Note: [] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Note: [] Corresponding author: Stefano Rossi, Department of Economics and Management – Industrial Engineering, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy. Tel.: +39 0761 357049; E-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Age-related differences, smoothness, upper limb motor control, robot-mediated therapy, reaching, tracking

DOI: 10.3233/ABB-140095

Journal: Applied Bionics and Biomechanics, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 91-104, 2014

Published: 2014
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although robotic therapy is at the forefront of upper limb rehabilitation, there is limited information about the importance of selecting age-matched subjects to evaluate recovery of arm movement during rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to quantify differences in the arm motion of healthy children and adults when they interact with a planar robot, in order to determine whether an age-matched control group is necessary in clinical studies involving pediatric patients. METHODS: Ten children (aged 7 to 10 years) and ten adults (aged 23 to 25 years) performed, at self-selected speed and accuracy, planar-reaching and circle-drawing movements with a robotic device. We analyzed the motor performances for the two groups quantifying the participants' dexterity in completing two chosen tasks. The measurement of the entire upper limb was obtained by merging the data provided by the robot with that of an optical tracking system. RESULTS: Children drew circles with less smoothness than adults but with the same accuracy and joint coordination. During planar reaching task, children optimized only the coordination but performed the movement with less accuracy and smoothness than adults. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence that age-matched healthy children should be used to quantify the recovery of robot-mediated therapy in children with upper limb impairments.

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