Quantitative Measures of Functional Upper Limb Movement in Persons after Stroke

Abstract

Stroke disables many older adults each year. This disease impairs the motor functions of survivors, and rehabilitation intervention is a critical part of recovery. Quantitative assessment techniques could be a valuable guide to this intervention. In this study, we propose the use of linear and nonlinear features to assess subjects after a stroke with upper limb motor impairment These features capture differences in accelerometer signals that mark patterns associated with functional movements performed by individuals with different severity of functional limitation and motor impairment. Our results indicate that the severity of functional deficit and motor impairment can be identified by quantifying the accelerometer signals for movements of the arm and hand while performing a functional reaching task