Test-retest repeatability reveals a temporal kinematic signature for an upper limb precision grasping task in adults

Hand-eye coordination skills, such as reaching and grasping, are fundamentally important for the performance of most daily activities. Upper limb kinematics recorded by motion tracking systems provide detailed insight into the central nervous system control of movement planning and execution. For example, kinematic metrics can reveal deficits in control, and compensatory neuromotor strategies in individuals with neuropathologies. However, the clinical utility of kinematic metrics is currently limited because their psychometric properties, such as test-retest repeatability, have not been well characterized. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the degree of repeatability of spatiotemporal kinematic metrics and determine which, if any, measures form a kinematic signature for a precision grasping task. Healthy adults (n = 40) were tested on two occasions separated by 5–10 days on a bead threading task consisting of reaching and precision grasping. Results showed good test-retest repeatability for reach peak velocity, reach and grasp durations, whereas poor to moderate reliability was observed for measures of spatial precision and maximum grip aperture. In addition, analysis showed that reliable estimates of kinematic metrics can be obtained using 10 trials. Overall, our results indicate that reach peak velocity and temporal metrics form a stable characteristic, or a kinematic signature, of individual performance on a standardized bead threading task. These findings suggest potential utility in applying kinematic metrics for clinical assessment of upper limb reaching tasks.