Abstract
The purpose of this study was to characterize functional limitation in seated manual transfer tasks for low back pain (LBP), spinal cord injury (SCI), and control subjects. Seated subjects performed either two- or one-handed transfer tasks to one of three targets 87cm above the hip-point at 0, 45, and 90° azimuths. Three torso angles (flexion, lateral bending, and axial rotation) were obtained from captured motions and modeled by combinations of B-spline base functions. The results demonstrated that 1) the SCI and LBP subjects exhibit smaller torso flexion than controls; 2) the SCI subjects tend to move the torso (lateral bending and extension) away from the target; and 3) these group differences are reduced in one-handed transfers and light load conditions. The movement patterns suggest that SCI patients may have adapted strategies to compensate for the limited control of upper body balance, while LBPs may limit torso motion to avoid pain.
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