Motion Capture Technology to Predict Onset of Arthritis

Motion capture technology may be
good at distinguishing between healthy hand movements and those with
osteoarthritis (OA). This method could potentially detect arthritis earlier and
prevent the loss of thumb function according to Dr Tamara Bush and research
scholar Amber Vocelle of Michigan State University.
Our work suggests that
three-dimensional motion tasks may be able to identify OA-associated motion
deficits earlier than the two-dimensional motion tasks typically used in a
clinical setting,” said Amber Vocelle, co-author on the research and a DO/PhD
student in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. “By identifying the disease
earlier, we can treat OA earlier in the disease process.”
According to Vocelle, therapists
and clinicians traditionally use goniometers, simple two-dimensional
measurement tools, along with basic movements to screen for reduced hand
function due to OA. But the results can vary depending on who’s doing the
measuring, making it hard to track reliably over time.
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