Protocol for a Systematic and Scoping Review of Emergent Motion Capture Technology for Upper Extremity Assessment in Stroke.

Abstract

Background: A significant proportion of stroke survivors, ranging from 50% to 88%, experience upper limb motor impairments. Traditional upper limb assessments in clinical settings rely on subjective observations, leading to inconsistencies. Motion capture (MoCap) systems offer objective, precise assessments of kinematics. This review aims to systematically evaluate emergent MoCap technologies for upper limb assessment in stroke patients.

Methods: This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.4. The review is registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF). Searches will be conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and IEEE Xplore. We will include peer-reviewed studies from 2014 to 2024, in English, focusing on adults (≥18 years) post-stroke using MoCap technologies for upper limb assessment. Two or more reviewers will independently screen, select, and extract data. A narrative synthesis will describe the evidence's quality and content.

Discussion: This review will enhance our understanding of MoCap technologies for upper limb assessment post-stroke, identifying strengths, limitations, and providing evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice and future research. It aims to bridge the gap by capturing and analysing the latest advancements and their clinical applications.