This paper describes how to evaluate the performance of dexterity measures by investigating the properties of the inverse kinematic algorithms. These algorithms use redundancy to optimize the dexterity measure under the constraint of following a specified end-effector trajectory. To facilitate the investigation, a concept of the construint locus is proposed. The constraint locus is the loci of ...

Dexterity, defined as the skillful manipulation of the hands, is now amenable to physiological investigation. Two topics are discussed here: grasping (i.e., hand-object coupling) and bimanual coordination. Dexterity depends on powerful, distributed neural networks and is particularly vulnerable to brain lesions. A knowledge of physiological mechanisms is needed to deal with these neurological p...

Degenerative functional and neurocognitive disorders with limited manual dexterity are becoming more prevalent as life expectancy is improved. Although the use of a removable partial denture is widely accepted treatment modality, the clinician should recognize the indications and maintenance requirements of different designs for individual patients. The planning and limitations of such treatmen...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of task-oriented training (TOT) on hand dexterity and strength in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to either the TOT group (n=6) or the control group (n=6). In both groups, conventional occupational therapy was pe...

This study examined the impact of a period of mental fatigue on manual dexterity, anticipation timing and repeated high intensity exercise performance. Using a randomised, repeated measures experimental design, eight physically trained adults (mean age = 24.8 ± 4.1 years) undertook a 40 minute vigilance task to elicit mental fatigue or a control condition followed by four repeated Wingate anaer...

Two methods for determining dexterity of manipulator arms are presented. A numerical method is illustrated for determining all possible orientations of the end-effector of an open kinematic chain based upon a row-rank deficiency of the sub-Jacobian of the kinematic constraint equations. This numerical method has been adapted from a theory for determining the accessible output set for planar and...

background: dysgraphia as a problem with handwriting, affects student's performance in school activities and participation. the purpose of the study was to compare dexterity and two-point discrimination of the hand between learning disabled students with dysgraphia and healthy students.   methods: forty-three students with developmental dysgraphia and 55 normal students in grade two to four fro...

A telerobotic platform developed in a collaboration between NASA-JPL and MicroDexterity Systems, Inc (MDS) is described in this paper. The lightweight, compact 6 dof master-slave system is precise to better than 10 microns and can cover a workspace greater than 400 cubic centimeters. Current capabilities of the system include manual position control with augmented shared control modes and autom...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine associations among oxidative stress, fine and visual-motor abilities, and behavioral adjustment in children receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
. DESIGN A prospective, repeated-measures design
. SETTING Two pediatric oncology settings in the southwestern United States. SAMPLE 89 children with ALL were followed from diagnosis to the e...