From Visual Observation to Quantitative Analysis: Evaluating Shoulder movements using Phase Space Dynamics (PSD)

This thesis applies Phase Space Dynamics (PSD) to enhance shoulder biomechanics analysis during the FIT-HaNSA test. Analyzing videos of seven healthy individuals from the HULC database, shoulder movements were recorded during a 5-minute task. Kinematic data, extracted using Dartfish® software and processed in Python, were used to calculate eleven PSD features reflecting movement variability and efficiency. Results demonstrated distinct patterns in shoulder movement dynamics, with high concordance between PSD features and key indicators like fatigue, compensatory movements, and increased intensity. Notably, PSD provided a more comprehensive and objective analysis compared to traditional methods. The study concludes that PSD is a promising tool for advancing shoulder biomechanics, offering valuable insights for physiotherapy and rehabilitation.