The human hand can take on a huge variety of shapes and functions, providing its owner with a powerful hammer at one time or a delicate pair of forceps at another. The universal utility of the hand is even more enhanced by the ability to amplify the function of the hand by using tools. To understand and appreciate how the human brain controls movements of the hand, it is important to investigate both the healthy motor behaviour and dysfunction during everyday manipulative tasks. This book provides a contemporary summary of the physiology and pathophysiology of the manipulative and exploratory functions of the human hand. With contributions from scientists and clinical researchers of biomechanics, kinesiology, neurophysiology, psychology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, it covers the development of healthy human grasping over the lifespan, the wide spectrum of disability in the pathological state and links basic motor research with modern brain sciences.
This book constitutes the proceedings of the conference on Haptics: Generating and Perceiving Tangible Sensations, held in Amsterdam, Netherlands in July 2010.
Reaching for objects in our surroundings is an everyday activity that most humans perform seamlessly a hundred times a day. It is nonetheless a complex behavior that requires the perception of objects’ features, action selection, movement planning, multi-joint coordination, force regulation, and the integration of all of these properties during the actions themselves to meet the successful demands of extremely varied task goals. Even though reach-to-grasp behavior has been studied for decades, it has, in recent years, become a particularly growing area of multidisciplinary research because of its crucial role in activities of daily living and broad range of applications to other fields, including physical rehabilitation, prosthetics, and robotics. This volume brings together novel and exciting research that sheds light into the complex sensory-motor processes involved in the selection and production of reach-to-grasp behaviors. It also offers a unique life-span and multidisciplinary perspective on the development and multiple processes involved in the formation of reach-to-grasp. It covers recent and exciting discoveries from the fields of developmental psychology and learning sciences, neurophysiology and brain sciences, movement sciences, and the dynamic field of developmental robotics, which has become a very active applied field relying on biologically inspired models. This volume is a rich and valuable resource for students and professionals in all of these research fields, as well as cognitive sciences, rehabilitation, and other applied sciences.
This book looks at the common problems both human and robotic hands encounter when controlling the large number of joints, actuators and sensors required to efficiently perform motor tasks such as object exploration, manipulation and grasping. The authors adopt an integrated approach to explore the control of the hand based on sensorimotor synergies that can be applied in both neuroscience and robotics. Hand synergies are based on goal-directed, combined muscle and kinematic activation leading to a reduction of the dimensionality of the motor and sensory space, presenting a highly effective solution for the fast and simplified design of artificial systems. Presented in two parts, the first part, Neuroscience, provides the theoretical and experimental foundations to describe the synergistic organization of the human hand. The second part, Robotics, Models and Sensing Tools, exploits the framework of hand synergies to better control and design robotic hands and haptic/sensing systems/tools, using a reduced number of control inputs/sensors, with the goal of pushing their effectiveness close to the natural one. Human and Robot Hands provides a valuable reference for students, researchers and designers who are interested in the study and design of the artificial hand.
Despite the intensive experimental and theoretical studies for over a century, the general processes involved in neural control of pasture and movement, in learning of motor behaviour in healthy subjects and in adaptation in pathology were and remain a challenging problems for the scientists in the field of sensorimotor control. The book is the outcome of the Advanced Research Workshop Sensorimotor Control, where the focus was on the state and the perspectives of the study in the field.
This practical guide aids clinicians in distinguishing the different dimensions of hand function such as impairment, disability, and handicap. New and updated chapters discuss cerebral palsy, sports injuries, robotics, and assistive technologies. Extensively revised, the book provides a broad overview of the basic principles and examination of hand function. It describes how to evaluate hand function in specific afflicted populations, including the rheumatoid patient, the stroke patient, the trauma patient, the geriatric patient, and the pediatric patient as well as special populations such as diabetes mellitus patients and musicians. It also includes an appendix of hand function scales essential to the assessment of disability. The Second Edition of Hand Function is an ideal resource for all rheumatologists, physiatrists, hand surgeons, orthopedists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists caring for patients with impaired hand function.
Children Adapt provides a developmental approach to pediatric rehabilitation and a theoretical framework for the evaluation and treatment of children. This extensive revision of the successful first edition now includes stated learning objectives, self-study questions and identification of key points, allowing the book to be used more effectively as a student textbook as well as a practitioner's reference. New material has been added to reflect the most up-to-date trends in the field of pediatric development, creating an innovative, insightful learning tool. Highlights of this revised edition include: An overview of the rudiments of theory building. New material discussing application of theory to pediatric rehabilitation. Explicit discussions of occupational performance skills. A comprehensive glossary of terms.
Providing a solid foundation in the normal development of functional movement, Functional Movement Development Across the Life Span, 4th Edition helps you recognize and understand typical functional movement in individuals from infancy to older adulthood, providing a framework from which to identify movement disorders and effectively manage patients with abnormal motor function. Divided into three units, this edition describes 1) theoretical frameworks of development, motor control/motor learning, and health/wellness; 2) anatomical and physiological development of the body systems comprising the movement system (muscular, skeletal, cardiopulmonary, nervous, sensory, integumentary, and endocrine); and 3) life span description of the movement functions of posture, balance, locomotion, prehension, and fitness. This edition integrates themes of the movement system, life span development, and health/wellness, providing you with the most current information needed for clinical decision making and to be an effective practitioner. Written by physical therapy experts Donna J. Cech, Suzanne "Tink" Martin, and William Staples, this book provides the evidence-based information and tools needed to understand functional movement and manage patients' functional skills throughout the life span. Dr. Staples brings his expertise in geriatric physical therapy and exercise in aging, enriching content on aging throughout the book. - More than 200 illustrations, tables, and special features clarify developmental concepts, address clinical implications, and summarize key points relating to clinical practice. - A logical, easy-to-read format includes 13 chapters organized into three units covering the definition of functional movement, movement system contribution to functional movement across the life span, and functional movement outcomes. - A focus on evidence-based information covers development changes across the life span and how they impact function. - NEW! The movement system framework is incorporated throughout, as well as a focus on health and wellness. - NEW! Clinical Implication boxes help you apply information into a clinical framework. - Revised content throughout provides you with the most current information needed to be an effective practitioner. - Updated references ensure content is current and applicable for today's practice. - NEW! An ebook version is included with print purchase. The ebook allows you to access all the text, figures, and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes, and highlights, and have content read aloud.
