Table 4 Template of the worksheet to conduct the benchmarking
From: A unified scheme for the benchmarking of upper limb functions in neurological disorders
1) Definition of the system under investigation | |
|---|---|
Subject Robotic device + Subject | |
Subject description: Age: Sex: Pathology: Upper arm length (cm): Forearm length (cm): Dominant arm: Evaluated arm: Neuropsychological assessment: | Robotic device description (if present): Training modality: Number of DOFs: Actuated DOFs (list and level of resistance/assistance [− 1; 1]): Passive DOFs (list and level of antigravity compensation [0;1]): |
2) Definition of experimental set-up and kinematics and electromyography standard definition | |
|---|---|
Kinematics Sensor type: Sensors placement: | Electromyography Electrode types: Electrodes placement on muscles: |
3) Experimental procedure definition and standardization | |
|---|---|
3.1 Motor skills | Motor skills and number of repetitions: 1. Anterior reaching at rest position height (N =) 2. Anterior reaching at shoulder height (N =) 3. Moving objects at rest position height (N =) 4. Moving objects at shoulder height (N =) 5. Hand to mouth (N =) |
Environment: Micro-gravity Gravity | |
Description of the object (if skill number 2 or 3): Shape: Dimensions: | |
3.2 Disturbance | Description of the disturbance Examples: Payload Description (mass in kg): Cognitive disturbance Description: Motor perturbation Description (Direction, location, magnitude, frequency, cycle waveform): Other Description: |
3.3 Outcomes | Outcome measures categories: Kinematics Electromyography |
3.4 Protocol | Setting: The subject sits in front of a desk on a chair without an armrest and with the seatback blocked at 90° The height of the desk is adjusted in order to have the elbow at 90° of flexion and no compensation of the shoulder in the frontal plane The starting position is with the hand on the desk in a central position (rest position) The trunk of the subject must be blocked. Trunk displacement must be recorded, and if higher than 20° in the sagittal or frontal plane, the test is not valid Procedure: 1) Set the measurement system according to the required outcome variables 2) Ask the subject to sit as described in section “Setting” 3) If skill 2 or 3, locate the object in the target position 4) (Eventually, set disturbance) 5) Start trial (data saving start) 6) Stop trial (data saving stop) 7) Store recorded data 8) Analyze data according to selected Outcomes |