Variable and asymmetric range of enslaving: fingers can act independently over small range of flexion

J.C. van den Noort, G. Cymbalyuk (Editor), Nathalie van Beek, Thomas van der Kraan, DirkJan H.E.J. Veeger, Dick F. Stegeman, Petrus H. Veltink, Huub Maas

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

The variability in the numerous tasks in which we use our hands is very large. However, independent movement control of individual fingers is limited. To assess the extent of finger independency during full-range finger flexion including all finger joints, we studied enslaving movement in non-instructed fingers) and range of independent finger movement through the whole finger flexion trajectory in single and multi-finger movement tasks. Thirteen young healthy subjects performed single- and multi-finger movement tasks under two conditions: active flexion through the full range of movement with all fingers free to move and active flexion while the non-instructed finger(s) were restrained. Finger kinematics were measured using inertial sensors (PowerGlove), to assess enslaving and range of independent finger movement. Although all fingers showed enslaving movement to some extent, highest enslaving was found in adjacent fingers. Enslaving effects in ring and little finger were increased with movement of additional, non-adjacent fingers. The middle finger was the only finger affected by restriction in movement of non-instructed fingers. Each finger showed a range of independent movement before the non-instructed fingers started to move, which was largest for the index finger. The start of enslaving was asymmetrical for adjacent fingers. Little finger enslaving movement was affected by multi-finger movement. We conclude that no finger can move independently through the full range of finger flexion, although some degree of full independence is present for smaller movements. This range of independent movement is asymmetric and variable between fingers and between subjects. The presented results provide insight into the role of finger independency for different types of tasks and populations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)0168636
Number of pages18
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume11
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Dec 2016

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kinematics
Fingers
trajectories
Kinematics
hands
Trajectories
Sensors

Keywords

  • EWI-27622
  • IR-103194
  • METIS-321682
  • PowerGlove

Cite this

van den Noort, J. C., Cymbalyuk, G. (Ed.), van Beek, N., van der Kraan, T., Veeger, D. H. E. J., Stegeman, D. F., ... Maas, H. (2016). Variable and asymmetric range of enslaving: fingers can act independently over small range of flexion. PLoS ONE, 11(12), 0168636. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168636
van den Noort, J.C. ; Cymbalyuk, G. (Editor) ; van Beek, Nathalie ; van der Kraan, Thomas ; Veeger, DirkJan H.E.J. ; Stegeman, Dick F. ; Veltink, Petrus H. ; Maas, Huub. / Variable and asymmetric range of enslaving: fingers can act independently over small range of flexion. In: PLoS ONE. 2016 ; Vol. 11, No. 12. pp. 0168636.
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abstract = "The variability in the numerous tasks in which we use our hands is very large. However, independent movement control of individual fingers is limited. To assess the extent of finger independency during full-range finger flexion including all finger joints, we studied enslaving movement in non-instructed fingers) and range of independent finger movement through the whole finger flexion trajectory in single and multi-finger movement tasks. Thirteen young healthy subjects performed single- and multi-finger movement tasks under two conditions: active flexion through the full range of movement with all fingers free to move and active flexion while the non-instructed finger(s) were restrained. Finger kinematics were measured using inertial sensors (PowerGlove), to assess enslaving and range of independent finger movement. Although all fingers showed enslaving movement to some extent, highest enslaving was found in adjacent fingers. Enslaving effects in ring and little finger were increased with movement of additional, non-adjacent fingers. The middle finger was the only finger affected by restriction in movement of non-instructed fingers. Each finger showed a range of independent movement before the non-instructed fingers started to move, which was largest for the index finger. The start of enslaving was asymmetrical for adjacent fingers. Little finger enslaving movement was affected by multi-finger movement. We conclude that no finger can move independently through the full range of finger flexion, although some degree of full independence is present for smaller movements. This range of independent movement is asymmetric and variable between fingers and between subjects. The presented results provide insight into the role of finger independency for different types of tasks and populations.",
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van den Noort, JC, Cymbalyuk, G (ed.), van Beek, N, van der Kraan, T, Veeger, DHEJ, Stegeman, DF, Veltink, PH & Maas, H 2016, 'Variable and asymmetric range of enslaving: fingers can act independently over small range of flexion' PLoS ONE, vol. 11, no. 12, pp. 0168636. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168636

Variable and asymmetric range of enslaving: fingers can act independently over small range of flexion. / van den Noort, J.C.; Cymbalyuk, G. (Editor); van Beek, Nathalie; van der Kraan, Thomas; Veeger, DirkJan H.E.J.; Stegeman, Dick F.; Veltink, Petrus H.; Maas, Huub.

In: PLoS ONE, Vol. 11, No. 12, 19.12.2016, p. 0168636.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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AU - van den Noort, J.C.

AU - van Beek, Nathalie

AU - van der Kraan, Thomas

AU - Veeger, DirkJan H.E.J.

AU - Stegeman, Dick F.

AU - Veltink, Petrus H.

AU - Maas, Huub

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N2 - The variability in the numerous tasks in which we use our hands is very large. However, independent movement control of individual fingers is limited. To assess the extent of finger independency during full-range finger flexion including all finger joints, we studied enslaving movement in non-instructed fingers) and range of independent finger movement through the whole finger flexion trajectory in single and multi-finger movement tasks. Thirteen young healthy subjects performed single- and multi-finger movement tasks under two conditions: active flexion through the full range of movement with all fingers free to move and active flexion while the non-instructed finger(s) were restrained. Finger kinematics were measured using inertial sensors (PowerGlove), to assess enslaving and range of independent finger movement. Although all fingers showed enslaving movement to some extent, highest enslaving was found in adjacent fingers. Enslaving effects in ring and little finger were increased with movement of additional, non-adjacent fingers. The middle finger was the only finger affected by restriction in movement of non-instructed fingers. Each finger showed a range of independent movement before the non-instructed fingers started to move, which was largest for the index finger. The start of enslaving was asymmetrical for adjacent fingers. Little finger enslaving movement was affected by multi-finger movement. We conclude that no finger can move independently through the full range of finger flexion, although some degree of full independence is present for smaller movements. This range of independent movement is asymmetric and variable between fingers and between subjects. The presented results provide insight into the role of finger independency for different types of tasks and populations.

AB - The variability in the numerous tasks in which we use our hands is very large. However, independent movement control of individual fingers is limited. To assess the extent of finger independency during full-range finger flexion including all finger joints, we studied enslaving movement in non-instructed fingers) and range of independent finger movement through the whole finger flexion trajectory in single and multi-finger movement tasks. Thirteen young healthy subjects performed single- and multi-finger movement tasks under two conditions: active flexion through the full range of movement with all fingers free to move and active flexion while the non-instructed finger(s) were restrained. Finger kinematics were measured using inertial sensors (PowerGlove), to assess enslaving and range of independent finger movement. Although all fingers showed enslaving movement to some extent, highest enslaving was found in adjacent fingers. Enslaving effects in ring and little finger were increased with movement of additional, non-adjacent fingers. The middle finger was the only finger affected by restriction in movement of non-instructed fingers. Each finger showed a range of independent movement before the non-instructed fingers started to move, which was largest for the index finger. The start of enslaving was asymmetrical for adjacent fingers. Little finger enslaving movement was affected by multi-finger movement. We conclude that no finger can move independently through the full range of finger flexion, although some degree of full independence is present for smaller movements. This range of independent movement is asymmetric and variable between fingers and between subjects. The presented results provide insight into the role of finger independency for different types of tasks and populations.

KW - EWI-27622

KW - IR-103194

KW - METIS-321682

KW - PowerGlove

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0168636

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0168636

M3 - Article

VL - 11

SP - 0168636

JO - PLoS ONE

JF - PLoS ONE

SN - 1932-6203

IS - 12

ER -

van den Noort JC, Cymbalyuk G, (ed.), van Beek N, van der Kraan T, Veeger DHEJ, Stegeman DF et al. Variable and asymmetric range of enslaving: fingers can act independently over small range of flexion. PLoS ONE. 2016 Dec 19;11(12):0168636. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0168636

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