Citation

Nakamura T, Abreu BC, Patterson RM, Buford WL, Ottenbacher KJ. Am. J. Occup. Ther. 2008; 62(1): 46-50.

Affiliation

University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77554, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, American Occupational Therapy Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18254430

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the kinematics of the presumed-to-be-unaffected upper limbs of people with brain injury (BI) compared with people without brain injury (WBI) during reaching. METHOD: Seventeen people with BI with no apparent motor deficit and 17 people WBI were measured and compared. A six-camera motion analysis system was used to determine movement duration, average speed, and smoothness during reaching. RESULTS: The group of people with BI was found to be significantly longer in movement duration (p < .0001), were slower in average speed (p < .0001), and had decreased smoothness (p < .0001) during reaching than the group of people WBI. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that people with BI may have undetected motor deficit in their presumed-to-be-unaffected upper extremities. Further research is needed to explore the upper-limb motor performance and the impact on function and safety.

Language: en