Biomechanical Analysis of Hand Dysfunctions

Dear Colleagues,

The hand is one of the most complex biomechanical structures in the human body. This complexity allows it to perform tasks requiring both strength and dexterity with great efficiency. However, there are many diseases and injuries that can alter its proper functioning, which can be highly disabling at the individual level and have a significant social and economic impact due to their incidence. When healthy structures have been altered by disease or injury, clinical decisions must be made about the most appropriate treatments or surgical procedures in an attempt to restore as much function as possible. In addition, whether surgical techniques have been applied or not, there is often a need for rehabilitative processes, again in an attempt to achieve as much function as possible. This implies the need for a good understanding of the functional characterization of the healthy hand at all levels (kinematic, neuromuscular, etc.) by analysing performance in both grasping and functional tasks. This characterization is crucial when both hands of a patient are affected and therefore no data from the patient's healthy hand are available for contrast.    

This Special Issue invites contributions on the application of biomechanical analysis of the hand and wrist for different purposes: (i) for the characterization of the healthy hand as a reference for contrasting functionality or for the design of biomechanical hand models capable of representing such functionality; (ii) for the verification of alterations in certain biomechanical indicators in a specific pathology, as well as their implication in functionality; (iii) for the design of implants, orthoses or other devices for clinical use, as well as for informing decisions on the best surgical technique to apply; and (iv) for decision making in rehabilitation practice.

Dr. Verónica Gracia-Ibáñez
Dr. Alba Roda-Sales
Guest Editors

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• hand biomechanics
• wrist biomechanics
• hand dysfunctions
• hand therapy
• hand surgery