Investigation of Wrist Extension Using Three Dimensional Digital Image Correlation

Abstract

Wrist is an extremely significant and important part of our body. It is the performance index of our work. Previous research has shown that wrist flexion can lead to compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, resulting in numbness, parenthesis and muscle weakness in hand. We present an effective optical approach for the measurement of strain on superficial muscles and tendons due to wrist extension, a remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome. The 3D correlation software computes the in-plane and out of plane strain using pictures taken, using 2 charge coupled device cameras, before and after extension. Strain plots obtained after comparison indicates the strain distribution in anterior compartment of the forearm muscle. The experiment is then repeated for four other participants and the trends are observed. The effect of stretching on the two important anterior components of the forearm muscles, namely the flexor pollicis longus muscle, flexor carpi ulnaris muscle is studied. This study can assist practitioners working in the field of applied anthropology to develop advanced diagnosis methodologies.