RESUMEN
Objective To study the kinematic characteristics of normal subjects and hemiplegic patients in activities of daily living (ADL) by three-dimensional (3D) kinematic analysis. Methods A Vicon motion capture system was used to record 3D kinematic data on 15 normal subjects ( the healthy group) and 10 hemiparetic patients (the hemiplegic group) performing 5 ADL tasks: reaching up, combing, drinking, touching the opposite shoulder and touching the back pocket. The movement times and the 3D motion angles of the sternoclavicular joint,the acromioclavicular joint, the shoulder joint, the elbow joint and the wrist joint were recorded. Three-dimensional joint angles and movement times were compared between the normal group and the hemiplegic group. Results Compared with the normal group, the hemiplegic group had significantly more lateral rotation and abduction of the sternoclavicular joint, medial rotation and extension of the acromioclavicular joint and flexion of the elbow joint.The hemiplegics used significantly less medial rotation of the sternoclavicular joint and adduction/abduction, flexion/extension and lateraL/medial rotation of the shoulder joint. Additionally, the hemiplegic group showed significantly longer movement times. Conclusion Hemiplegics use different joint motor patterns from healthy subjects in completing ADL actions.