Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic Review

Open biomechanical datasets play a critical role in advancing scientific research, particularly with the growing use of machine learning, which requires a large amount of data for training and validation. However, the availability and characteristics of such datasets, particularly in the context of...

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Main Authors: Ranieri Santanche, Antonia Centrone, Lorenza Mattei, Francesca Di Puccio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
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Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10976719/
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author Ranieri Santanche
Antonia Centrone
Lorenza Mattei
Francesca Di Puccio
author_facet Ranieri Santanche
Antonia Centrone
Lorenza Mattei
Francesca Di Puccio
author_sort Ranieri Santanche
collection DOAJ
description Open biomechanical datasets play a critical role in advancing scientific research, particularly with the growing use of machine learning, which requires a large amount of data for training and validation. However, the availability and characteristics of such datasets, particularly in the context of upper limb motion, are still underexplored. This systematic review aims to identify, assess, and categorize existing open datasets related to upper limb motion, focusing on the tasks analyzed, subject demographics, and data collection methods employed. We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including Scopus, Zenodo, PubMed, Xplore, and Google Dataset Search, selecting publicly accessible datasets that focus on upper limb motion based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Additional datasets were identified through manual searches. A total of 63 datasets met the criteria for further analysis, and their quality was assessed based on subject types, data collection methods, and sample sizes. The majority of the datasets centered on activities of daily living, with 69.8% of the studies involving healthy subjects. Marker-based motion capture was the most common data collection method, though the use of markerless systems (e.g., inertial sensors, video cameras) is on the rise. Key limitations included the absence of standardized movement protocols and small subject sample sizes across studies. In contrast to lower limb gait analysis, there is no single dominant task for studying upper limb motion. Standardizing movement protocols and incorporating a broader range of daily activities into datasets could enhance the development of assistive technologies and rehabilitation programs. Future research should focus on creating more standardized, diverse datasets to improve the accuracy and generalizability of biomechanical analyses.
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spelling doaj-art-c5d78f418494404e83d0dae47a1ac72d2025-08-20T02:11:25ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113741077412710.1109/ACCESS.2025.356435010976719Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic ReviewRanieri Santanche0https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3444-3608Antonia Centrone1https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2666-2037Lorenza Mattei2Francesca Di Puccio3Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Università di Pisa, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Università di Pisa, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Università di Pisa, Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Università di Pisa, Pisa, ItalyOpen biomechanical datasets play a critical role in advancing scientific research, particularly with the growing use of machine learning, which requires a large amount of data for training and validation. However, the availability and characteristics of such datasets, particularly in the context of upper limb motion, are still underexplored. This systematic review aims to identify, assess, and categorize existing open datasets related to upper limb motion, focusing on the tasks analyzed, subject demographics, and data collection methods employed. We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including Scopus, Zenodo, PubMed, Xplore, and Google Dataset Search, selecting publicly accessible datasets that focus on upper limb motion based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Additional datasets were identified through manual searches. A total of 63 datasets met the criteria for further analysis, and their quality was assessed based on subject types, data collection methods, and sample sizes. The majority of the datasets centered on activities of daily living, with 69.8% of the studies involving healthy subjects. Marker-based motion capture was the most common data collection method, though the use of markerless systems (e.g., inertial sensors, video cameras) is on the rise. Key limitations included the absence of standardized movement protocols and small subject sample sizes across studies. In contrast to lower limb gait analysis, there is no single dominant task for studying upper limb motion. Standardizing movement protocols and incorporating a broader range of daily activities into datasets could enhance the development of assistive technologies and rehabilitation programs. Future research should focus on creating more standardized, diverse datasets to improve the accuracy and generalizability of biomechanical analyses.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10976719/Biomechanical databasesopen datasetshuman movementsupper limbarm
spellingShingle Ranieri Santanche
Antonia Centrone
Lorenza Mattei
Francesca Di Puccio
Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic Review
IEEE Access
Biomechanical databases
open datasets
human movements
upper limb
arm
title Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic Review
title_full Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic Review
title_fullStr Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic Review
title_full_unstemmed Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic Review
title_short Open Datasets for Upper Limb Motion—A Systematic Review
title_sort open datasets for upper limb motion x2014 a systematic review
topic Biomechanical databases
open datasets
human movements
upper limb
arm
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10976719/
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