The use of the oscilloscope as an evaluation method for the upper extremity in healthy volunteers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.23170190.v33e244539Keywords:
Upper Extremity, Functional Laterality, Mobile Applications, Smartphone, Evaluation StudyAbstract
The functionality of the upper limb depends on the integrity of its anatomical segments and the stability provided by surrounding structures, which together enable coordinated and balanced movement. Objective: To develop a method for evaluating upper limb motor control using a gyroscope-based approach. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 50 healthy volunteers to assess upper limb motor control. A gyroscope was employed to record oscillations of the X, Y, and Z axes while participants walked a 5-meter path at a self-selected speed. A smartphone containing the Phyphox application was attached to the wrist of the dominant upper limb, with the elbow flexed at 90° and the shoulder in a neutral position. The application recorded angular variations (X, Y, and Z) throughout the movement trajectory. The same procedure was then repeated for the non-dominant upper limb. Data were analyzed using SPSS software to compute comparisons and correlations between limbs. Results: The non-dominant upper limb exhibited significantly greater oscillation compared to the dominant side (p<0.04 for participants aged 20 at 39 years; p<0.001 for those aged 40 at 59 years), with an average walking speed of 0.55 m/s. Conclusion: The use of a gyroscope combined with an accelerometer allowed the identification of greater stability in the dominant upper limb compared to the non-dominant limb during walking.
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