Abstract
Variability is a fact of life. Variability is variations that occur in Human performance after multiple repetitions. The central concept of behavioral flexibility in motor control was presented by Bernstein when he stated that movements are a “repetition without repetition” to describe how, well-learned movements, show variation when achieving the task outcome. Handwriting is an example of a complex task that results from a sequence of movements. It has a specific variability structure, and temporal organization, that inform the regularity with which children write as well as their adaptability to the task, e.g., a fractal dynamics behavior. Movement analysis using nonlinear dynamical systems theory for human behavior provides a better understanding of the execution of pathologies, psychomotor problems, or problems in motor control. Dynamic Systems theory suggests that biological systems self-organize according to the environment, and biomechanical and morphological constraints to find the most stable solution for producing a given movement. The concepts of variability and chaotic variation in human movement, along with advanced tools used to measure human movement variability open new perspectives to guide practice and a fundamental complementary means of diagnosis.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Stergiou, N., Harbourne, R.T., Cavanaugh, J.T.: Optimal movement variability: a new theoretical perspective for neurologic physical therapy. J. Neurol. Phys. Ther. 30, 120–129 (2006)
Profeta, V.L.S., Turvey, M.T.: Bernstein’s levels of movement construction: a contemporary perspective. Hum. Mov. Sci. 57, 111–133 (2018)
Harrison, S.J., Stergiou, N., Harrison, S.J.: Complex adaptive behavior and dexterous action, vol. 46 (2016)
Hamill, J., Palmer, C., Van Emmerik, R.E.A.: Coordinative variability and overuse injury. BMC Sports Sci. Med. Rehabil. 4, 45 (2012)
Scafetta, N., Marchi, D., West, B.J.: Understanding the complexity of human gait dynamics. Chaos 19, 026108 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3143035
Aagaard, P., Simonsen, E.B., Andersen, J.L., Magnusson, P., Dyhre-Poulsen, P.: Increased rate of force development and neural drive of human skeletal muscle following resistance training. J. Appl. Physiol. 93, 1318–1326 (2002)
Bonacci, J., Fox, A., Hall, M., Fuller, J.T., Vicenzino, B.: Effect of gait retraining on segment coordination and joint variability in individuals with patellofemoral pain. Clin. Biomech. 80, 105179 (2020)
Stroppa, F., Soylemez, A., Yuksel, H.T., Akbas, B., Sarac, M.: Optimizing exoskeleton design with evolutionary computation: an intensive survey. Robotics 12, 106 (2023)
Silva, M.P.T., Ambrósio, J.A.C.: Kinematic data consistency in the inverse dynamic analysis of biomechanical systems. Multibody Syst. Dyn. 8, 219–239 (2002)
Amarantini, D., Rao, G., Martin, L., Berton, É.: EMG-based estimation of muscular efforts exerted during human movements. Mov. Sport Sci. 75, 27 (2012)
Winter, D.A.: Biomechanics and Motor Control of Human Movement. Wiley, Hoboken (2009)
Harbourne, R.T., Stergiou, N.: Movement variability and the use of nonlinear tools: principles to guide physical therapist practice. Phys. Ther. 89, 267–282 (2009)
Raffalt, P.C., Stergiou, N., Sommerfeld, J.H., Likens, A.D.: The temporal pattern and the probability distribution of visual cueing can alter the structure of stride-to-stride variability. Neurosci. Lett. 763, 136193 (2021)
Saraiva, M., Marouvo, J., Fernandes, O., Castro, M.A., Vilas-Boas, J.P.: Postural control and sleep quality in cognitive dual tasking in healthy young adults. J. 4, 257–265 (2021)
Saraiva, M., Vilas-Boas, J.P., Fernandes, O.J., Castro, M.A.: Effects of motor task difficulty on postural control complexity during dual tasks in young adults: a nonlinear approach. Sensors 23, 628 (2023)
Deffeyes, J.E., Harbourne, R.T., Kyvelidou, A., Stuberg, W.A., Stergiou, N.: Nonlinear analysis of sitting postural sway indicates developmental delay in infants (2009)
Cavanaugh, J.T., Guskiewicz, K.M., Stergiou, N.: A nonlinear dynamic approach for evaluating postural control: new directions for the management of sport-related cerebral concussion. Sports Med. 35, 935–950 (2005)
Kaipust, J.P., McGrath, D., Mukherjee, M., Stergiou, N.: Gait variability is altered in older adults when listening to auditory stimuli with differing temporal structures. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 41, 1595–1603 (2013)
Taga, G.: Nonlinear dynamics of the human motor control (2000)
Favela, L.H.: Dynamical systems theory in cognitive science and neuroscience. Phil. Compass. 15, 12695 (2020)
Duarte, R., et al.: Capturing complex human behaviors in representative sports contexts with a single camera. Medicina 46, 408 (2010)
Araújo, D., et al.: Ecological dynamics of continuous and categorical decision-making: the regatta start in sailing. Eur. J. Sport Sci. 15, 195–202 (2015)
Kugler, P.N., Scott Kelso, J.A., Turvey, M.T.: 1 on the concept of coordinative structures as dissipative structures: I. theoretical lines of convergence. In: Advances in Psychology, pp. 3–47. Elsevier (1980)
Rhea, C.K., et al.: Fractal gait patterns are retained after entrainment to a fractal stimulus. PLoS ONE 9, e106755 (2014)
Delignières, D.: Synchronization with fractal rhythms, vol. 198 (2009)
Cavanaugh, J.T., Kelty-Stephen, D.G., Stergiou, N.: Multifractality, interactivity, and the adaptive capacity of the human movement system: a perspective for advancing the conceptual basis of neurologic physical therapy. J. Neurol. Phys. Ther. 41, 245–251 (2017)
Marmelat, V.: ‘Human paced’ walking: followers adopt stride time dynamics of leaders. Neurosci. Lett. 5, 67–71 (2014)
Marmelat, V., Torre, K., Beek, P.J., Daffertshofer, A.: Persistent fluctuations in stride intervals under fractal auditory stimulation. PLoS ONE 9, e91949 (2014)
Yeh, R.-G.: Detrended fluctuation analyses of short-term heart rate variability in surgical intensive care units. Biomed. Eng. 18, 6 (2006)
Yentes, J.M., Hunt, N., Schmid, K.K., Kaipust, J.P., McGrath, D., Stergiou, N.: The appropriate use of approximate entropy and sample entropy with short data sets. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 41, 349–365 (2013)
Busa, M.A., van Emmerik, R.E.A.: Multiscale entropy: a tool for understanding the complexity of postural control. J. Sport Health Sci. 5, 44–51 (2016)
Richman, J.S., Moorman, J.R.: Physiological time-series analysis using approximate entropy and sample entropy. Am. J. Physiol.-Heart Circul. Physiol. 278, H2039–H2049 (2000)
Chen, P.-H., Wang, R.-L., Liou, D.-J., Shaw, J.-S.: Gait disorders in Parkinson’s disease: assessment and management. Int. J. Gerontol. 7, 189–193 (2013)
Harrison, E.C., McNeely, M.E., Earhart, G.M.: The feasibility of singing to improve gait in Parkinson disease. Gait Post. 53, 224–229 (2017)
Huisinga, J.M., Yentes, J.M., Filipi, M.L., Stergiou, N.: Postural control strategy during standing is altered in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurosci. Lett. 524, 124–128 (2012)
Stergiou, N., Decker, L.M.: Human movement variability, nonlinear dynamics, and pathology: Is there a connection? Hum. Mov. Sci. 30, 869–888 (2011)
Mehdizadeh, S.: The largest Lyapunov exponent of gait in young and elderly individuals: a systematic review. Gait Post. 60, 241–250 (2018)
Wolf, A., Swift, J.B., Swinney, H.L., Vastano, J.A.: Determining Lyapunov exponents from a time series. Physica D 16, 285–317 (1985)
Stergiou, N.: Biomechanics and Gait Analysis. Elsevier, Waltham (2020)
Stergiou, N. (ed.): Nonlinear analysis for human movement variability. Taylor & Francis, Taylor & Francis, a CRC title, part of the Taylor & Francis imprint, a member of the Taylor & Francis Group, the academic division of T&F Informa plc, Boca Raton (2016)
Smith, T.J.: Variability in human performance (2014)
Błażkiewicz, M., Hadamus, A., Borkowski, R.: Recurrence quantification analysis as a form of postural control assessment: a systematic review. Appl. Sci. 13, 5587 (2023)
Prabhu, P., Pradhan, N.: Recurrence quantification analysis of human gait in neurological movement disorders. Int. J. Eng. Res. 5(03), 1–6 (2016)
Flatters, I., Mushtaq, F., Hill, L.J.B., Holt, R.J., Wilkie, R.M., Mon-Williams, M.: The relationship between a child’s postural stability and manual dexterity. Exp. Brain Res. 232, 2907–2917 (2014)
Prattichizzo, D., Meli, L., Malvezzi, M.: Digital handwriting with a finger or a stylus: a biomechanical comparison. IEEE Trans. Haptics 8, 356–370 (2015)
Longstaff, M.G., Heath, R.A.: The influence of motor system degradation on the control of handwriting movements: a dynamical systems analysis. Hum. Mov. Sci. 22, 91–110 (2003)
Tseng, M.H., Chow, S.M.K.: Perceptual-motor function of school-age children with slow handwriting speed. Am. J. Occup. Ther. 54, 83–88 (2000)
Scordella, A., et al.: The role of general dynamic coordination in the handwriting skills of children. Front. Psychol. 06, 580 (2015)
Kushki, A., Schwellnus, H., Ilyas, F., Chau, T.: Changes in kinetics and kinematics of handwriting during a prolonged writing task in children with and without dysgraphia. Res. Dev. Disabil. 32, 1058–1064 (2011)
Fernandes, D.N., Chau, T.: Fractal dimensions of pacing and grip force in drawing and handwriting production. J. Biomech. 41, 40–46 (2008)
Garnacho-Castaño, M.-V., Faundez-Zanuy, M., Lopez-Xarbau, J.: On the handwriting tasks’ analysis to detect fatigue. Appl. Sci. 10, 7630 (2020)
Falk, T.H., Tam, C., Schellnus, H., Chau, T.: On the development of a computer-based handwriting assessment tool to objectively quantify handwriting proficiency in children. Comput. Methods Prog. Biomed. 104, e102–e111 (2011)
Schmid, M., Conforto, S., Lopez, L., D’Alessio, T.: Cognitive load affects postural control in children. Exp. Brain Res. 179, 375–385 (2007)
Plandowska, M., Lichota, M., Górniak, K.: Postural stability of 5-year-old girls and boys with different body heights. PLoS ONE 14, e0227119 (2019)
Lacour, M., Bernard-Demanze, L., Dumitrescu, M.: Posture control, aging, and attention resources: models and posture-analysis methods. Neurophysiologie Clinique/Clin. Neurophysiol. 38, 411–421 (2008)
Levac, D., Pierrynowski, M.R., Canestraro, M., Gurr, L., Leonard, L., Neeley, C.: Exploring children’s movement characteristics during virtual reality video game play. Hum. Mov. Sci. 29, 1023–1038 (2010)
Nelson, M., Koilias, A., Gubbi, S., Mousas, C.: Within a virtual crowd: exploring human movement behavior during immersive virtual crowd interaction. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Virtual-Reality Continuum and its Applications in Industry, pp. 1–10. ACM, Brisbane (2019)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Fernandes, O. (2023). Methods for Analyzing Movement Variability. In: Parziale, A., Diaz, M., Melo, F. (eds) Graphonomics in Human Body Movement. Bridging Research and Practice from Motor Control to Handwriting Analysis and Recognition. IGS 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14285. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45461-5_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-45461-5_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-45460-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-45461-5
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)