A kinematic study of contextual effects on reaching performance in persons with and without stroke: Influences of object availability

Task-oriented and Purposeful Robot-Assisted Therapy

“…Table 8 summarizes the evolution of the key kinematic variables derived for S4. We expected that the kinematic variables of movement time and smoothness (Peak V/mean V) would consistently decrease as evaluation proceeded from pre to post to follow-up and approach normal values (Rohrer et al 2002;Wu et al 2000). In general this expectation was met and can be seen from the data for S1 and S2 in Tables 7and S4 in Table 8.…”

“…However, more complex models may be necessary to describe reaching during ADLs. The presence of a real object modifies the orientation of the wrist for the reach-tograsp movement (Gentilucci et al 1991(Gentilucci et al , 1996(Gentilucci et al , 2002Gentilucci, 2005;Wu et al 1998;Wu et al 2000). Loureiro and colleagues, in their study of 3-D tracking in the Gentle/s robot-assisted therapy environment, proposed the use of 7th order polynomial curves with varying boundary conditions to better approximate reaching towards real objects (Loureiro et al 2003;Amirabdollahian et al 2003).…”

“…Given the promise of robot-assisted therapies, it is important to further investigate the mapping between practice and real-world ADL function and determine what mechanisms influence it. Recent evidence from neuroscience literature suggests that enriched environments Fisher and Sullivan 2001;Nudo et al 2003), highly functional and taskoriented practice environment (Carr et al 1985;Ada et al 1995;Trombly et al 1995;Aycock et al 2004, Bayona et al 2005Wu et al 2000;Woldag et al 2003;Theilman et al 2004), and highly motivating fun and game-based environments that increase task engagement (Bach-y-rita et al 2002, Wood et al 2003) are important for motor relearning, recovery after stroke and reduced learned non-use behavior. Task-oriented therapies facilitate the practice of a variety of simple and complex functional movements within a real context, with environment feedback to cue task success or failure.…”

“…Task-oriented therapies facilitate the practice of a variety of simple and complex functional movements within a real context, with environment feedback to cue task success or failure. Occupational therapists Wu and colleagues have shown that the presence of real objects as the target of reach significantly influences the reaching kinematics of both neurologically normal and stroke impaired persons (Wu et al 2000(Wu et al , 1998. In fact, reaching towards a real object is more likely to result in smoother movements, lower movement times, and higher peak velocities.…”

Effect of Weighted Hand Movements on Hand Function in Chronic Stroke Patients

“…The right hemisphere is more focused on the perception of whole and spatial tasks. Person with left hemisphere were also able to make less use of sensory information to update and modify the direction of the movement than persons with right hemisphere damage because the left hemisphere is responsible for motor programming [13][14][15].…”