Longitudinal evaluation of upper extremity reachable workspace in ALS by Kinect sensor

The use of digital tools in rare neurological diseases towards a new care model: a narrative review

Rare neurological diseases as a whole share peculiar features as motor and/or cognitive impairment, an elevated disability burden, a frequently chronic course and, in present times, scarcity of therapeutic options. The rarity of those conditions hampers both the identification of significant prognostic outcome measures, and the development of novel therapeutic approaches and clinical trials. Collection of objective clinical data through digital devices can support diagnosis, care, and therapeutic research. We provide an overview on recent developments in the field of digital tools applied to rare neurological diseases, both in the care setting and as providers of outcome measures in clinical trials in a representative subgroup of conditions, including ataxias, hereditary spastic paraplegias, motoneuron diseases and myopathies.

Evaluation of Upper Extremity Reachable Workspace in Children With Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

PURPOSE

Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) results in upper extremity (UE) movement limitations. Current assessments of UE function used to inform clinical decision-making only evaluate a limited set of static postures and/or movements and have been criticized for being insensitive to certain meaningful differences in function. Reachable workspace provides a numeric and visual assessment of global UE movement ability by quantifying the regions in space that patients can reach with their hands, and it can be collected using real-time feedback to elicit a best-effort acquisition of function. This study evaluated the ability of a real-time feedback reachable workspace tool to assess UE movement in BPBI.

METHODS

Twenty-two children with BPBI participated. Reachable workspace data were collected with three-dimensional motion capture using real-time visual feedback to measure UE reaching ability in all regions surrounding the body. All outer, far-from-body points reached by the hand were recorded and analyzed by region. A two-way, within-subjects analysis of variance was used to assess interlimb differences in percentage workspace reached and median reach distance for each of the six regions.

RESULTS

The affected limb had significantly less percentage workspace reached than the unaffected limb for all six regions (mean interlimb differences by region, 5.7%-38.6%). The affected limb had significantly less median reach distance than the unaffected limb for all six regions (mean interlimb differences by region, 3.1%-36.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The workspace approach was capable of detecting UE movement impairments of the BPBI-affected limb. The reported deficits in workspace on the affected limb correspond to common movement impairments in BPBI, such as limitations in shoulder elevation, external rotation, extension, and elbow extension.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The real-time feedback reachable workspace tool is sufficiently robust for assessing UE movement impairments in children with BPBI.

The use of digital outcome measures in clinical trials in rare neurological diseases: a systematic literature review

Developing drugs for rare diseases is challenging, and the precision and objectivity of outcome measures is critical to this process. In recent years, a number of technologies have increasingly been used for remote monitoring of patient health. We report a systematic literature review that aims to summarize the current state of progress with regard to the use of digital outcome measures for real-life motor function assessment of patients with rare neurological diseases. Our search of published literature identified 3826 records, of which 139 were included across 27 different diseases. This review shows that use of digital outcome measures for motor function outside a clinical setting is feasible and employed in a broad range of diseases, although we found few outcome measures that have been robustly validated and adopted as endpoints in clinical trials. Future research should focus on validation of devices, variables, and algorithms to allow for regulatory qualification and widespread adoption.

A systematic review of the applications of markerless motion capture (MMC) technology for clinical measurement in rehabilitation

BACKGROUND

Markerless motion capture (MMC) technology has been developed to avoid the need for body marker placement during motion tracking and analysis of human movement. Although researchers have long proposed the use of MMC technology in clinical measurement-identification and measurement of movement kinematics in a clinical population, its actual application is still in its preliminary stages. The benefits of MMC technology are also inconclusive with regard to its use in assessing patients' conditions. In this review we put a minor focus on the method's engineering components and sought primarily to determine the current application of MMC as a clinical measurement tool in rehabilitation.

METHODS

A systematic computerized literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and IEEE. The search keywords used in each database were "Markerless Motion Capture OR Motion Capture OR Motion Capture Technology OR Markerless Motion Capture Technology OR Computer Vision OR Video-based OR Pose Estimation AND Assessment OR Clinical Assessment OR Clinical Measurement OR Assess." Only peer-reviewed articles that applied MMC technology for clinical measurement were included. The last search took place on March 6, 2023. Details regarding the application of MMC technology for different types of patients and body parts, as well as the assessment results, were summarized.

RESULTS

A total of 65 studies were included. The MMC systems used for measurement were most frequently used to identify symptoms or to detect differences in movement patterns between disease populations and their healthy counterparts. Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who demonstrated obvious and well-defined physical signs were the largest patient group to which MMC assessment had been applied. Microsoft Kinect was the most frequently used MMC system, although there was a recent trend of motion analysis using video captured with a smartphone camera.

CONCLUSIONS

This review explored the current uses of MMC technology for clinical measurement. MMC technology has the potential to be used as an assessment tool as well as to assist in the detection and identification of symptoms, which might further contribute to the use of an artificial intelligence method for early screening for diseases. Further studies are warranted to develop and integrate MMC system in a platform that can be user-friendly and accurately analyzed by clinicians to extend the use of MMC technology in the disease populations.

A systematic review of digital technology to evaluate motor function and disease progression in motor neuron disease

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common subtype of motor neuron disease (MND). The current gold-standard measure of progression is the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALS-FRS(R)), a clinician-administered questionnaire providing a composite score on physical functioning. Technology offers a potential alternative for assessing motor progression in both a clinical and research capacity that is more sensitive to detecting smaller changes in function. We reviewed studies evaluating the utility and suitability of these devices to evaluate motor function and disease progression in people with MND (pwMND). We systematically searched Google Scholar, PubMed and EMBASE applying no language or date restrictions. We extracted information on devices used and additional assessments undertaken. Twenty studies, involving 1275 (median 28 and ranging 6-584) pwMND, were included. Sensor type included accelerometers (n = 9), activity monitors (n = 4), smartphone apps (n = 4), gait (n = 3), kinetic sensors (n = 3), electrical impedance myography (n = 1) and dynamometers (n = 2). Seventeen (85%) of studies used the ALS-FRS(R) to evaluate concurrent validity. Participant feedback on device utility was generally positive, where evaluated in 25% of studies. All studies showed initial feasibility, warranting larger longitudinal studies to compare device sensitivity and validity beyond ALS-FRS(R). Risk of bias in the included studies was high, with a large amount of information to determine study quality unclear. Measurement of motor pathology and progression using technology is an emerging, and promising, area of MND research. Further well-powered longitudinal validation studies are needed.

Use of the Kinect sensor measured three-dimensional reachable workspace to assess the upper extremity function in older adults

BACKGROUND

We explored the utility of Kinect sensor-based upper extremity reachable workspace measure in healthy adults aged over 65 years.

METHODS

Forty-three healthy older subjects (19 men and 24 women) aged over 65 years and 22 healthy young subjects (11 men and 11 women) were included. All participants were ambulatory and perform the activities of daily living independently. Three-dimensional reachable workspace data were acquired for both arms using the Kinect sensor. We evaluated hand grip strength, manual muscle shoulder strength, and the active shoulder ranges of motion of the dominant and non-dominant sides. We assessed upper limb function using the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) instrument and the health-related quality of life employing the descriptive EQ-5D-5L system.

FINDINGS

The quadrant 3 relative surface area in older adults was significantly smaller than that of young adults (both dominant and non-dominant sides), while the total and quadrants 1, 2, and 4 relative surface areas did not differ between older and young adults. However, the quadrant 3 relative surface area did not correlate with the DASH or EQ5D scores. The total and quadrant 1, 2, and 4 relative surface areas of the dominant side significantly correlated with the DASH score. The quadrant 4 relative surface area of the dominant side significantly correlated with the EQ5D score.

INTERPRETATION

Kinect sensor-based, three-dimensional, reachable workspace analysis may be useful to evaluate upper limb function in older adults.

Sensor acquired reachable workspace in the elderly population: A cross-sectional observational study

The elderly population experiences a decline in upper extremity range of motion (ROM), impairing activities of daily living. The primary mode of quantification is by goniometer measurement. In this cross-sectional observation study, we investigate a sensor-acquired reachable workspace for assessing shoulder ROM decline in an elderly population in comparison to traditional measurements. Sixty-one healthy subjects aged ≥ 65 years were included and compared to a cohort of 39 younger subjects, aged 20 to 64. A sensor acquired reachable workspace using a Kinect motion capture camera measured the maximum reaching ability of both arms while in a seated position, measured in m2 and normalized to arm length to calculate a novel score defined as a relative surface area. This score approximates range of motion in the upper extremity. This measurement was compared to goniometer measurements, including active ROM in shoulder flexion and abduction. Total RSA shows moderate to strong correlation between goniometer in flexion and abduction in the dominant arm (R = 0.790 and R = 0.650, P < .001, respectively) and moderate correlations for the nondominant arm (R = 0.622 and R = 0.615, P < .001). Compared to the younger cohort, the elderly population demonstrated significantly reduced total RSA in the dominant arm (meanelderly = 0.774, SD = 0.09; meanyounger = 0.830, SD = 0.07, P < .001), with significant reductions in the upper lateral quadrant in both arms (dominant: meanelderly = 0.225, SD = 0.04; meanyounger = 0.241, SD = 0.01; P < .001; nondominant: meanelderly = 0.213, SD = 0.03; meanyounger = 0.228, SD = 0.01; P = .004). The test-retest reliability was strong for both dominant and nondominant total RSA (ICC > 0.762). The reachable workspace demonstrates promise as a simple and quick tool for clinicians to assess detailed and quantitative active shoulder ROM decline in the elderly population.

Reachable workspace with real-time motion capture feedback to quantify upper extremity function: A study on children with brachial plexus birth injury

Clinical upper extremity (UE) functional assessments and motion capture measures are limited to a set of postures and/or motions that may provide an incomplete evaluation of UE functionality. Reachable workspace analysis offers a more global assessment of UE function, but is reliant on patient compliance with instructions and may result in underestimates of a patient's true UE function. This study evaluated a clinical tool that incorporates real-time visual feedback with motion capture to provide an innovative means of engaging patients to ensure a 'best effort' quantification of their available UE workspace. Reachable workspace for 10 children with brachial plexus birth injury was collected with and without real-time feedback on the affected and unaffected limbs. Real-time feedback consisted of subjects reaching for virtual targets surrounding their physical space using a virtual cursor controlled by the real-time location of their hand. Real-time feedback resulted in significantly greater workspace in multiple regions on both the affected (3/6 octants; mean differences 10.8%-20.0%) and unaffected (6/6 octants; mean differences 24.3%-40.0%) limbs. Use of real-time feedback also yielded significant interlimb differences in workspace across more regions (4/6 octants; mean differences 29.0%-39.9% vs. 1/6 octants; mean difference 17%). Finally, real-time feedback resulted in significant interlimb differences in median reach distance across more regions (4/6 octants; mean differences 7.5%-44.8% vs. 1/6 octants; mean difference 11.2%). A reachable workspace tool with real-time feedback results in more workspace and UE function recorded and offers a highly visual and intuitive depiction of a patient's UE abilities.

Technology-outcome measures in neuromuscular disorders: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Portable and wearable devices can monitor a number of physical performances and have been lately applied to patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMD).

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of literature databases following PRISMA principles, including all studies reporting the use of technological devices for motor function assessment in NMDs from 2000 to 2021. We also summarized the evidence on measurement properties (validity, reliability, responsiveness) of the analyzed technological outcome measures.

RESULTS

One-hundred studies fulfilled the selection criteria, most of them published in the last ten years. We defined four categories that gathered similar technologies: gait analysis tools, for clinical assessment of pace and posture; continuous monitoring of physical activity with inertial sensors, that allow "unsupervised" activity assessment; upper limb evaluation tools, including Kinect-based outcome measures to assess the reachable workspace; and new muscle strength assessment tools, such as Myotools. Inertial sensors have the evident advantage of being applied in the "in-home" setting, which has become especially appealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, although poor evidence from psychometric property assessment and results of the analyzed studies may limit their research application. Both Kinect-based outcome measures and Myotools have been already validated in multicenter studies and different NMDs, showing excellent characteristics for application in clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

This overview is intended to raise awareness on the potential of the different TOMs in the neuromuscular field and be an informative source for the design of future clinical trials, particularly in the era of telemedicine.

Bradykinesia in motoneuron diseases

OBJECTIVE

Only few studies investigated voluntary movement abnormalities in patients with motoneuron diseases (MNDs) or their neurophysiological correlates. We aimed to kinematically assess finger tapping abnormalities in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), as compared to healthy controls (HCs), and their relationship with motoneuron involvement.

METHODS

Fourteen ALS and 5 PLS patients were enrolled. Finger tapping was assessed by a motion analysis system. Patients underwent a central motor conduction time assessment, a motor nerve conduction study, and needle electromyography. Data were compared to those of 79 HCs using non-parametric tests. Possible relationships between clinical, kinematic, and neurophysiological data were assessed in patients.

RESULTS

As a major finding, ALS and PLS patients performed finger tapping slower than HCs. In both conditions, movement slowness correlated with muscle strength. In ALS, movement slowness also correlated with the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential recorded from the muscles involved in the task and with denervation activity. No correlations were found between slowness, measures of upper motoneuron involvement, and other clinical and neurophysiological data.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides novel information on voluntary movement abnormalities in MNDs.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results highlight the pathophysiological role of motoneurons in generating movement slowness.

Emerging concepts on bradykinesia in non-parkinsonian conditions

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Bradykinesia is one of the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, clinical and experimental studies indicate that bradykinesia may also be observed in various neurological diseases not primarily characterized by parkinsonism. These conditions include hyperkinetic movement disorders, such as dystonia, chorea, and essential tremor. Bradykinesia may also be observed in patients with neurological conditions that are not seen as "movement disorders," including those characterized by the involvement of the cerebellum and corticospinal system, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and psychiatric disorders.

METHODS

We reviewed clinical reports and experimental studies on bradykinesia in non-parkinsonian conditions and discussed the major findings.

RESULTS

Bradykinesia is a common motor abnormality in non-parkinsonian conditions. From a pathophysiological standpoint, bradykinesia in neurological conditions not primarily characterized by parkinsonism may be explained by brain network dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

In addition to the pathophysiological implications, the present paper highlights important terminological issues and the need for a new, more accurate, and more widely used definition of bradykinesia in the context of movement disorders and other neurological conditions.

Upper Limb Three-Dimensional Reachable Workspace Analysis Using the Kinect Sensor in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

A reachable workspace evaluation using the Kinect sensor was previously introduced as a novel upper limb outcome measure in neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions. This study investigated its usefulness in hemiplegic stroke patients.

DESIGN

Forty-one patients with hemiplegic stroke were included. Kinect-based reachable workspace analysis was performed on both paretic and nonparetic sides. Upper limb impairment was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and the Motricity Index on the paretic side. Disability was assessed using the shortened Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. Correlations between the relative surface areas, impairment scores, and disability were analyzed.

RESULTS

Quadrants 1, 3, and 4 as well as the total relative surface area of the paretic side were significantly reduced compared with the nonparetic side. The total relative surface area of the paretic side correlated with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores, the Motricity Index for Upper Extremity, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score. Furthermore, quadrant 3 was the most important determinant of upper limb impairment and disability.

CONCLUSIONS

A reachable workspace (a sensor-based measure that can be obtained relatively quickly and unobtrusively) could be a useful and alternative outcome measure for upper limb in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Functional workspace and patient-reported outcomes improve after reverse and total shoulder arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Low-cost motion analysis systems (LCMASs) have emerged as easy and practical methods to measure the functional workspace (FWS). Thus, we ventured to apply an LCMAS, the Kinect2 gaming camera, to evaluate the FWS in patients with shoulder osteoarthritis (OA) and patients who underwent total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of participants with OA (n = 53), TSA (n = 70), and RTSA (n = 34) was performed. The FWS as measured by an LCMAS, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form score, and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) score were collected. For participants who underwent TSA or RTSA, the FWS was evaluated at 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. The correlation of the FWS with the ASES score and PROMIS score was determined. Significance was set at P < .05.

RESULTS

Patients who underwent TSA or RTSA had a significantly higher FWS than patients with shoulder OA at almost all time points. Patients who underwent TSA had a significantly higher FWS than patients who underwent RTSA at 24 months after surgery. PROMIS and ASES scores showed strong correlations with the FWS in patients who underwent TSA (R = 0.75 [P < .001] and R = 0.83 [P < .001], respectively) and RTSA (R = 0.84 [P < .001] and R = 0.73 [P < .001], respectively).

CONCLUSION

The FWS measured by an LCMAS is an easy and low-cost method to quantify the reachable space of the hand in patients and shows strong correlations with patient-reported outcome measures. This may be a useful tool to assess upper-extremity range of motion before and after shoulder arthroplasty.

Usefulness of Kinect sensor-based reachable workspace system for assessing upper extremity dysfunction in breast cancer patients

PURPOSE

Recently, the utility of the Kinect sensor-based reachable workspace analysis system for measuring upper extremity outcomes of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal diseases has been demonstrated. Here, we investigated its usefulness for assessing upper extremity dysfunction in breast cancer patients.

METHODS

Twenty unilateral breast cancer patients were enrolled. Upper extremity active range of motion was captured by the Kinect sensor, and reachable workspace relative surface areas (RSAs) were obtained. The QuickDASH was completed to assess upper extremity disability. General and breast cancer-specific quality of life (QOL) were assessed by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-BR23.

RESULTS

The total RSA ratio of the affected and unaffected sides ranges from 0.64 to 1.11. Total RSA was significantly reduced on the affected versus unaffected side (0.659 ± 0.105 vs. 0.762 ± 0.065; p = 0.001). Quadrant 1 and 3 RSAs were significantly reduced (0.135 ± 0.039 vs. 0.183 ± 0.040, p < 0.001; 0.172 ± 0.058 vs. 0.217 ± 0.031, p = 0.006). Total RSA of the affected side was strongly correlated with the numeric pain rating scale during movement (r = - 0.812, p < 0.001) and moderately with the QuickDASH (r = - 0.494, p = 0.027). Further, quadrant 3 RSA was correlated with EORTC QLQ-C30 role functioning (r = 0.576, p = 0.008) and EORTC QLQ-BR23 arm symptoms (r = - 0.588, p = 0.006) scales.

CONCLUSIONS

The Kinect sensor-based reachable workspace analysis system was effectively applied to assess upper extremity dysfunction in breast cancer patients. This system could potentially serve as a quick and simple outcome measure that provides quantitative data for breast cancer patients.

Longitudinal study of upper extremity reachable workspace in fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD) results in slowly progressive strength impairment, especially the upper extremities. Recent discoveries regarding pathophysiology have led to exciting novel therapeutic strategies. To further facilitate drug development, improved FSHD outcome measures that are functionally-relevant and sensitive to longitudinal change will be critical. Recently, a motion sensor (Kinect)-based upper extremity outcome called 'reachable workspace' that provides a quantitative reconstruction of an individual's reachability was developed. In this study, changes in reachable workspace were tracked upwards for five-years in 18 FSHD subjects. Results show -1.63 %/year decline in total reachable workspace (p = 0.144); with most notable decline in the above-the-shoulder level quadrants (upper-lateral Q3: -9.5 %/year, p < 0.001 and upper-medial Q1: -6.8 %/ year, p = 0.063) with no significant changes in the lower quadrants (Q2, Q4). Reachable workspace declined more significantly if the subjects were challenged with 500 g wrist weights: total reachable workspace: -1.82 %/year, p = 0.039; Q1: -7.20 %/year, p = 0.041; Q3: -8.09 %/year, p = 0.001. Importantly, reachable workspace outcome was also able to distinguish subgroups in FSHD: mildly- and severely-affected with essentially unchanging reachability over years, and moderately-affected who demonstrate the most detectable changes longitudinally. The study demonstrates utility for measuring declines in upper quadrant reachability, and provides enrichment/stratification of FSHD populations most likely to show treatment effects in clinical trials.

Tracking a Fast-Moving Disease: Longitudinal Markers, Monitoring, and Clinical Trial Endpoints in ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) encompasses a heterogeneous group of phenotypes with different progression rates, varying degree of extra-motor involvement and divergent progression patterns. The natural history of ALS is increasingly evaluated by large, multi-time point longitudinal studies, many of which now incorporate presymptomatic and post-mortem assessments. These studies not only have the potential to characterize patterns of anatomical propagation, molecular mechanisms of disease spread, but also to identify pragmatic monitoring markers. Sensitive markers of progressive neurodegenerative change are indispensable for clinical trials and individualized patient care. Biofluid markers, neuroimaging indices, electrophysiological markers, rating scales, questionnaires, and other disease-specific instruments have divergent sensitivity profiles. The discussion of candidate monitoring markers in ALS has a dual academic and clinical relevance, and is particularly timely given the increasing number of pharmacological trials. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and critical review of longitudinal studies in ALS, focusing on the sensitivity profile of established and emerging monitoring markers.