Reliability of kinematic parameters during unilateral upper limb reaching tasks using a portable motion tracking system

Abstract

The reliability of a portable computer based system (Motor Task Manager; MTM) used for the assessment of motor dysfunction needs to be assessed before being used clinically. Nine healthy males, aged 24–55 years (mean = 31.4, SD ± 9.84) performed three unilateral MTM-prescribed reaching task paradigms. Tasks were completed three times in random order during three separate testing sessions. Speed characteristics showed excellent (Intra-class correlation coefficient; ICC 0.78–0.92) and inter-session (ICC 0.86–0.92) reliability for all three tasks. Temporal parameters had fair to good reliability in the first session (ICC 0.42–0.78) which improved in sessions 2 and 3 (ICC 0.64–0.96). Inter-session reliability for temporal characteristics was better for movement time (ICC 0.57–0.84) than onset time (ICC 0.14–0.53). Spatial characteristics demonstrated poor intra- (ICC −0.09–0.63) and inter-sessions (ICC 0.15–0.61) reliability. Speed characteristics were the most robust results for the healthy population studied and recommended for measuring performance, particularly if only one test session is possible.

Keywords:

• Reaching task
• Reliability
• Kinematic analysis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants for their time and Regione Liguria (Italy), DOCUP 2000–2006, Misura 1.4b for financial support for the project.