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A better understanding of upper limb movements requires analysis of motion. Measurements of movement analysis through biomechanical studies are necessary to describe upper limb activities. Therefore this study intend to investigate peak velocity of elbow joint for different age groups during the "touching contra lateral shoulder" activity. Twenty healthy subjects age range 20 - 59 years old (n = 60) performed a complete cycle of hand lifting, resting and returning the hand to its initial position. This activity was analyzed using Vicon motion-analysis system, which consists of three infra-red and high speed cameras. Phase definitions were defined and descriptive kinematic variables were obtained from this activity. Movement times is found to increase in 50's age group. The difference of movement times is < 0.3s. Peak velocity for subject age 50s' also higher between all subjects. The difference of peak velocity is < 0.03m/s for all different phases. It was found that there were a significant difference in total movement time and no significance different between each age group for peak velocity parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper limbs plays a key role in the performance of ADL, from support to total execution. However, Often rehabilitations therapies sacrifices the regaining of functionality to other functions as transportation. Therefore an automatic system capable of recognize ADL based on the information provided by upper limbs is needed. Lots of algorithms have been reported using inertial sensors with limited results. The aim of this work is to describe an algorithm to recognize some ADL performed with the upper limb, such as eating, drinking, talking by phone, combing hair and brushing teeth. The algorithm is based on an alternative novel sensor that provides information of the vertical displacement of the wrist relative to the shoulder, and can be used in a free-living environment. The detection system combines decision trees (DT) and Hidden Markov Models (HMM). Efficiencies reported goes from 61% up to 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers some of indications and contraindications for the use of the exoskeleton "EXAR". Our experience with the present construction use shows that the exoskeleton "EXAR" is able to make up the following lost or disturbed muscle functions:- an arm raise; a drawing of the arm aside from the trunk;- a bending of the arm in shoulder or elbow joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study of a method for determining and classifying trunk neuromuscular responses during an arm self-perturbation task. The study involved three males and four females who performed repetitions of the dominant upper extremity shoulder flexion. Results indicate a lack of correlation between electromagnetic delay (EMD) and maximum arm angular velocity. Also noted is the possible underestimation of the EMD times used to determine anticipatory activation.