Name: measurement of spatial stability in precision grip
Uploaded: 2020-06-04T12:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip at JoVE.com

We thank Mr. T. Nishida (Technician, Dept of Sales, Division of Device Performance Materials, Nitta Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan.) for technical support.

The series of studies in the present paper were approved by Gunma University Ethical Review Board for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects.
NOTE: Inclusion criteria for participants were the ability to understand the use of minimal force and the ability to perform the task with the thumb and index finger. Exclusion criteria were selected based on the purpose of the experiments.
1. Equipment preparation
<ol>
	<li>Connect two sensor connector cables to the USB ...

<ol>
	<li>Johansson, R. S., Flanagan, J. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Coding+and+use+of+tactile+signals+from+the+fingertips+in+object+manipulation+tasks.">Coding and use of tactile signals from the fingertips in object manipulation tasks.</a> Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 10 (5), 345-359 (2009).</li><li>Cole, K. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Grasp+force+control+in+older+adults.">Grasp force control in older adults.</a> Journal of Motor Behavior. 23 (4), 251-258 (1991).</li><li>Lang, C. E., Schieber, M. H., Nowak, D. A., Hermsd&#246;rfer, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stroke.">Stroke.</a> Sensorimotor control of grasping. , 296-310 (2009).</li><li>Johansson, R. S., Westling, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Roles+of+glabrous+skin+receptors+and+sensorimotor+memory+in+automatic+control+of+precision+grip+when+lifting+rougher+or+more+slippery+objects.">Roles of glabrous skin receptors and sensorimotor memory in automatic control of precision grip when lifting rougher or more slippery objects.</a> Experimental Brain Research. 56 (3), 550-564 (1984).</li><li>Parikh, P. J., Cole, K. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Handling+objects+in+old+age:+forces+and+moments+acting+on+the+object.">Handling objects in old age: forces and moments acting on the object.</a> Journal of Applied Physiology. 112 (7), 1095-1104 (2012).</li><li>Augurelle, A. S., Smith, A. M., Lejeune, T., Thonnard, J. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Importance+of+cutaneous+feedback+in+maintaining+a+secure+grip+during+manipulation+of+hand-held+objects.">Importance of cutaneous feedback in maintaining a secure grip during manipulation of hand-held objects.</a> Journal of Neurophysiology. 89 (2), 665-671 (2003).</li><li>Monz&#233;e, J., Lamarre, Y., Smith, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+digital+anesthesia+on+force+control+using+a+precision+grip.">The effects of digital anesthesia on force control using a precision grip.</a> Journal of Neurophysiology. 89 (2), 672-683 (2003).</li><li>Fortier-Poisson, P., Langlais, J. S., Smith, A. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Correlation+of+fingertip+shear+force+direction+with+somatosensory+cortical+activity+in+monkey.">Correlation of fingertip shear force direction with somatosensory cortical activity in monkey.</a> Journal of Neurophysiology. 115 (1), 100-111 (2016).</li><li>Kurihara, J., Lee, B., Hara, D., Noguchi, N., Yamazaki, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Increased+center+of+pressure+trajectory+of+the+finger+during+precision+grip+task+in+stroke+patients.">Increased center of pressure trajectory of the finger during precision grip task in stroke patients.</a> Experimental Brain Research. 237 (2), 327-333 (2018).</li><li>Noguchi, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Grip+force+control+during+object+manipulation+in+cervical+myelopathy.">Grip force control during object manipulation in cervical myelopathy.</a> Spinal Cord. , (2020).</li><li>Lee, B., Miyanjo, R., Tozato, F., Shiihara, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dual-task+interference+in+a+grip+and+lift+task.">Dual-task interference in a grip and lift task.</a> The Kitakanto Medical Journal. 64 (4), 309-312 (2014).</li></ol>

This experimental procedure provides evidence that a flexible pressure sensor sheet could be useful for evaluating spatial stability during precision grip. Altered grip force direction represents grasping spatial instability such as a finger slip. However, existing load cell-type force direction instruments have a limitation in terms of ensuring a natural reach-to-grip movement. To resolve this technical problem, the COP trajectory of the area between the finger pulps and contact surface based on a biomechanical relation...

Force control is the fundamental basis of precision grip. Compared with power grip, precision grip evaluates the minimal force output reflecting the ability to manipulate an object. Multiple sensorimotor systems contribute to precision grip. For example, during a grip and lift task, visual information enables the perception of the object&#8217;s size and shape. After the fingertips touch the object, tactile signals are delivered to the somatosensory cortex to adjust the precision grip force. Grip force (GF) is generated when the fingertips make contact with the object, and it increases during the lifting phase1. When an object approaches the goal height in the air, healthy young adults produce the minimal GF to optimize cutaneous input from the finger pulps and conserve energy. On the other hand, older adults use a large grip force to avoid letting the object slip from their grip2. In stroke patients, onset of grip force is delayed and the ability to adjust the safety margin is impaired due to sensory and motor deficits. Exaggerated grip force is considered to be a strategic response to compensate for sensory and motor deficits3.
The standard protocol to measure GF control in precision grip was suggested by Johansson and Westling in the 1980s4. They developed a device to monitor both load and grip forces simultaneously. Since then, GF amplitude and its temporal regulation have been used as typical kinetic parameters in numerous studies on precision grip. Another kinetic parameter is the force direction5. The force direction results from a combination of grip and lift forces. In order to maintain stable precision grip, properly directed grip and lift forces must be generated between the thumb and index finger, and the deviated force direction can cause spatial instability. Although various load cell-type force direction instruments are used in grasping studies, these instruments have a limitation in terms of monitoring the grip force control in manipulating objects of different sizes and shapes used in daily living. Thus, a flexible and attachable sensor is essential to investigate the relationships between grip force control and daily functions.
The purpose of this protocol is to indirectly evaluate the finger force direction during manipulation of an object based on the biomechanical relationship in which deviated force direction causes Center of Pressure (COP) replacement. The COP is the center of all the forces, and represents how the forces are balanced on the sensor sheet. The use of COP to evaluate grip force control was first suggested by Augurelle et al.6. They monitored COP displacement to investigate the role of cutaneous feedback and found that deviated COP occurred after digital anesthesia. However, COP displacement was monitored only vertically in their study; therefore, the COP displacement in a three-dimensional space has not been adequately evaluated. To solve this limitation a thin, flexible, and high spatial resolution pressure sensor sheet was used to measure COP. Relatively high spatial resolution sensors (~60&#8211;100 points per cm2) to measure grip force control have been used7,8, but recent advances in spatial resolution (248 points per cm2) allow measurement of the COP trajectory as a parameter to quantify spatial stability. This paper describes the experimental procedure and discusses how finger COP contributes to the understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of grasping.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Alcohol swab</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Wipe participant&#8217;s finger pulps</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Compressor</td>
			<td>Nitta Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Apply pressure to the sensor seats</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Computer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Controller of compressor</td>
			<td>Nitta Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Use to manupirate the compressor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Double-sides tapes</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Use to attach the sensorseats to the iron cube</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iron cube</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>150-250g, 30&#215;30&#215;30 mm</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sensor connector</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Connect the sensorseats to computer.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sensor sheet</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Pressure Mapping Sensor 5027, Tekscan, South Boston, MA, 50 USA</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Setting stand</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Set the iron cube on it during the measurement</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Software; I-SCAN 5027, Ver. 7.51</td>
			<td>Nitta Corporation</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Table</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Use for the measurement</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

measurement of spatial stability in precision grip

The purpose of the protocol is to indirectly evaluate the direction of the finger force during manipulation of a handheld object based on the biomechanical relationships in which deviated force direction causes center of pressure (COP) replacement. To evaluate this, a thin, flexible, and high spatial resolution pressure sensor sheet is used. The system allows measurement of the COP trajectory in addition to the force amplitude and its temporal regulation. A series of experiments found that increased trajectory length reflected a sensorimotor deficit in stroke patients, and that decreased COP trajectory reflects a compensatory strategy to avoid an object slipping from the hand grip in the elderly. Moreover, the COP trajectory could also be decreased by dual task interference. This article describes the experimental procedure and discusses how finger COP contributes to an understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of grasping.

Several studies have introduced experimental protocols and two kinetic parameters (the COP trajectory and the GF) to measure finger force during manipulation of an object. In previous studies, it was found that the COP trajectory increased in stroke patients9. In cervical myelopathy patients, the GF correlated with the cutaneous pressure threshold and upper extremity function10. In healthy young subjects, the GF increased with cognitive interference11</sup...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip at JoVE.com

Measurement of Spatial Stability in Precision Grip

The goal of this protocol is to measure the center of pressure (COP) replacement using a high spatial resolution sensor sheet to reflect the spatial stability in a precision grip. The use of this protocol could contribute to greater understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of grasping.

The purpose of the protocol is to indirectly evaluate the direction of the finger force during manipulation of a handheld object based on the ...

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