Feasibility of Using Microsoft Kinect to Assess Upper Limb Movement in Type III Spinal Muscular Atrophy Patients

PLoS One. 2017 Jan 25;12(1):e0170472. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170472. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Although functional rating scales are being used increasingly as primary outcome measures in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), sensitive and objective assessment of early-stage disease progression and drug efficacy remains challenging. We have developed a game based on the Microsoft Kinect sensor, specifically designed to measure active upper limb movement. An explorative study was conducted to determine the feasibility of this new tool in 18 ambulant SMA type III patients and 19 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Upper limb movement was analysed elaborately through derived features such as elbow flexion and extension angles, arm lifting angle, velocity and acceleration. No significant differences were found in the active range of motion between ambulant SMA type III patients and controls. Hand velocity was found to be different but further validation is necessary. This study presents an important step in the process of designing and handling digital biomarkers as complementary outcome measures for clinical trials.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arm / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / instrumentation
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods*
  • Infrared Rays
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Movement*
  • Photography / instrumentation*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood / diagnostic imaging*
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood / physiopathology
  • Video Games*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The study was entirely funded by F. Hoffmann–La Roche. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors XC, JS, DW, CC, OK and MS, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.