Validation of feasibility of two depth sensor-based Microsoft Kinect cameras for human abduction-adduction motion analysis

Kinematic motion analysis using a VICON camera costing about $20,000 and an IMU sensor, valued at about $1,500, are typical. A depth sensor-based Kinect camera, which costs about $200, is easier to use and less expensive than other motion analysis systems. This study assessed the performance of Kinect camera in evaluating kinematic data of a dummy capable of arm abduction-adduction motion to a maximum angle of 60 degrees as well as of seven healthy male adults. Phase difference between the VICON and Kinect cameras at a standing position angle of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° was 6.5%, 6.8%, 10.8%, 6.1% and 5.5%, respectively which values were revealed a significantly smaller phase difference of Kinect camera than the IMU sensor (p=0.027), and showed that Kinect camera was more effective for motion analysis. Statistical analysis of the correlation between the VICON and Kinect cameras yielded a Pearson coefficient of 0.96, 0.96, 0.84, 0.96, and 0.94, and limit of agreement (LoA) score of 95.0%, 96.4%, 94.7%, 96.0%, and 95.8% at the standing position angle of 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°, respectively. Two kinect cameras have similar motion tracking performance as the VICON camera system at very little cost.