MotionXpert – Realtime Movement Assessment
Background
Maintaining an adequate active range of motion (ROM) in all directions of the upper limb joints is crucial for successfully completing activities of daily living (ADL), such as eating, dressing, and personal care (Oosterwijk et al., 2018). When restricted ROM interferes with these tasks, individuals may adopt compensatory movement patterns (Adams et al., 2003; Bland et al., 2008), rely on adaptive equipment, or seek assistance from others. Although these approaches may provide temporary relief, they can have long-term consequences, including physical, psychological, social, and financial challenges. Compensatory movements, for example, can lead to secondary issues like muscle overuse, soft tissue damage, and joint degeneration (de Groot et al., 2011; Mell et al., 2005). As a result, restoring or maintaining joint ROM is a key focus in rehabilitation programs.
Overview
Currently, shoulder ROM assessments are often done using subjective methods like eye estimation or with tools like goniometers, which can be imprecise and time-consuming (van den Hoorn et al., 2025). MotionXpert addresses these challenges by providing objective, real-time measurements and a reliable method for documenting and tracking shoulder movement over time.
The tool is designed to support accurate shoulder ROM measurements, focusing on the key movement functions of abduction, adduction, flexion, and extension, while addressing the challenges of elder hardware used in clinics, time shortage during assessments and data protection.
Key Features
- Precise Measurement of Shoulder Movements:
- The tool will analyze shoulder movements both in the frontal and sagittal planes, offering a comprehensive view of the shoulder’s range of motion and providing valuable insights into the patient’s condition.
- The tool will measure abduction, adduction, flexion, and extension of the shoulder joint with high accuracy, providing detailed angular data for each movement.
- Real-Time Analysis and Calculation:
- The tool will perform real-time analysis and calculation of the movement angles, offering instant feedback during assessments.
- Capture of Movement Images:
- The tool will enable real-time recording of images of the patient’s shoulder movements, which can be stored in the patient’s medical record for further review and tracking.
- Addition of Key Information to Examination:
- Healthcare professionals will be able to add notes or important details related to each examination, ensuring comprehensive documentation alongside the movement data.
- Data Export Capabilities:
- All data, including movement angles, notes from healthcare professionals and the images, will be exportable to allow for seamless integration into patient records and facilitate further analysis or sharing with other medical professionals.
- Comparison with Historical Measurements:
- The tool will provide a feature to compare current assessment results with previous measurements from the patient, enabling healthcare experts to track progress over time and make informed decisions based on historical data.
- Resource-Efficient:
- Designed to be lightweight and resource-efficient, this tool will ensure minimal strain on computer processing power, making it suitable for use on various systems without compromising performance.
- Plattform independent
- The only thing required is a computer and any kind of external camera. No fancy and expensive tools or ad-ons are required to use the software.
- Modular Design for Future Expansions:
- The software will be built with a modular architecture, allowing for easy future updates and enhancements, such as incorporating additional movement planes or integrating assessments on other joints.
Goal
This tool is specifically designed for healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists, orthopedic specialists, and rehabilitation experts, who require accurate and reliable assessments of shoulder mobility. By automating the measurement process and reducing the dependency on subjective evaluations, the tool aims to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve patient outcomes, and streamline the assessment workflow.
Project Team
Aichberger Daniel, BSc.
Fittl Anna, BSc.
Ing. Dipl.-Ing. Lang Kathrin, BSc.
Reichart Sarah, BSc.
Steinau Karoline, BSc.
Literature
Adams, B. D., Grosland, N. M., Murphy, D. M., & McCullough, M. (2003). Impact of impaired wrist motion on hand and upper-extremity performance(1). The Journal of Hand Surgery, 28(6), 898–903. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0363-5023(03)00424-6
Bland, M. D., Beebe, J. A., Hardwick, D. D., & Lang, C. E. (2008). Restricted active range of motion at the elbow, forearm, wrist, or fingers decreases hand function. Journal of Hand Therapy: Official Journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists, 21(3), 268–274; quiz 275. https://doi.org/10.1197/j.jht.2008.01.003
de Groot, J. H., Angulo, S. M., Meskers, C. G. M., van der Heijden-Maessen, H. C. M., & Arendzen, J. H. H. (2011). Reduced elbow mobility affects the flexion or extension domain in activities of daily living. Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon), 26(7), 713–717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2011.03.001
Mell, A. G., Childress, B. L., & Hughes, R. E. (2005). The effect of wearing a wrist splint on shoulder kinematics during object manipulation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 86(8), 1661–1664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2005.02.008
van den Hoorn, W., Fabre, A., Nardese, G., Su, E. Y.-S., Cutbush, K., Gupta, A., & Kerr, G. (2025). The Future of Clinical Active Shoulder Range of Motion Assessment, Best Practice, and Its Challenges: Narrative Review. Sensors, 25(3), Article 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25030667
A project at the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences
Master Program Digitale Healthcare
Project Coaches: FH-Prof. Dipl.-Sporting. Dr. Mario Heller, FH-Prof. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Brian Horsak
