Electric Goniometer Research Articles

Individuals with Functional Ankle Instability have Contralateral Lowload Force Sense Deficits but not Joint Reposition Sense Deficits

1331 Proprioceptive deficits following an ankle sprain are reported as a factor leading to functional ankle instability. While force sense has not been extensively investigated at the ankle, there are conflicting results from studies of kinesthetic awareness and joint reposition sense in participants with functional ankle instability. PURPOSE: To establish the relationship of contralateral force sense (FS) and joint reposition sense (JRS), with functional ankle instability. METHODS: Sixty participants (13 with no history of ankle injury, 47 with a history of 1 or more ankle sprain, 22.4 ± 4.9 yrs, 169.9 ± 9.7 cm, 72.6 ± 16.3 kg) were recruited to participate in the study. Contralateral reproduction (i.e. referencing with the ipsilateral limb and reproducing with the contralateral limb) was used for the FS and JRS testing. FS testing was done with a load cell at 10 & 30% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Participants held the target force for 5 seconds, followed by an immediate reproduction of the force. JRS testing was done with an electric goniometer at 20° of inversion and 10° of eversion from subtalar neutral. Participants held the target angle for 15 seconds, followed immediately by the reproduction of the angle. Three trials were completed for each force and angle. The last second of the reference point and the first second of the reproduction point were subtracted to produce an error score for each trial. Absolute (AE), constant (CE), and variable (VE) errors were calculated from the trials. Correlations were computed with ankle instability and JRS and FS errors. RESULTS: No relationship was revealed between ankle instability and inversion or eversion joint reposition sense, with r values ranging from −.24 to .11. A significant relationship was found with force sense. Specifically, variable error force sense at 10% MVIC was positively correlated to ankle instability (r = .28; df = 59; P< .05). Force sense at 30% MVIC did not produce a significant relationship with values of r ranging from −.01 to .09. CONCLUSION: Deficits of low load force sense, but not joint reposition sense are present in individuals with ankle instability. While these are both measures of proprioception they are testing very specific conscious proprioceptive senses. They each potentially target different receptors, afferent pathways, and control mechanisms. These findings suggest that a significant ankle injury may cause damage to part of the sensorimotor system, without disrupting other components.

Individuals with Functional Ankle Instability have Contralateral Lowload Force Sense Deficits but not Joint Reposition Sense Deficits

1331 Proprioceptive deficits following an ankle sprain are reported as a factor leading to functional ankle instability. While force sense has not been extensively investigated at the ankle, there are conflicting results from studies of kinesthetic awareness and joint reposition sense in participants with functional ankle instability. PURPOSE: To establish the relationship of contralateral force sense (FS) and joint reposition sense (JRS), with functional ankle instability. METHODS: Sixty participants (13 with no history of ankle injury, 47 with a history of 1 or more ankle sprain, 22.4 ± 4.9 yrs, 169.9 ± 9.7 cm, 72.6 ± 16.3 kg) were recruited to participate in the study. Contralateral reproduction (i.e. referencing with the ipsilateral limb and reproducing with the contralateral limb) was used for the FS and JRS testing. FS testing was done with a load cell at 10 & 30% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). Participants held the target force for 5 seconds, followed by an immediate reproduction of the force. JRS testing was done with an electric goniometer at 20° of inversion and 10° of eversion from subtalar neutral. Participants held the target angle for 15 seconds, followed immediately by the reproduction of the angle. Three trials were completed for each force and angle. The last second of the reference point and the first second of the reproduction point were subtracted to produce an error score for each trial. Absolute (AE), constant (CE), and variable (VE) errors were calculated from the trials. Correlations were computed with ankle instability and JRS and FS errors. RESULTS: No relationship was revealed between ankle instability and inversion or eversion joint reposition sense, with r values ranging from −.24 to .11. A significant relationship was found with force sense. Specifically, variable error force sense at 10% MVIC was positively correlated to ankle instability (r = .28; df = 59; P< .05). Force sense at 30% MVIC did not produce a significant relationship with values of r ranging from −.01 to .09. CONCLUSION: Deficits of low load force sense, but not joint reposition sense are present in individuals with ankle instability. While these are both measures of proprioception they are testing very specific conscious proprioceptive senses. They each potentially target different receptors, afferent pathways, and control mechanisms. These findings suggest that a significant ankle injury may cause damage to part of the sensorimotor system, without disrupting other components.

Intra-instrument reliability of 4 goniometers

Background Cervical spine ROM movements taken accurately with reliable measuring devices are important in outcome measures as well as in measuring disability. Objective To compare the active cervical spine ROM in healthy young adult population using 4 different goniometers. Methods Subjects were tested during active cervical spine ROM. The devices were a single hinge inclinometer, single bubble carpenter's inclinometer, dual bubble goniometers and Cybex EDI 320 electrical inclinometer. All subjects were tested for rotational limits along each of the orthogonal axes of movement. There are 3 trials for each movement direction, except rotation was not measured with the Cybex as per manual suggestions. The subjects were randomly assigned to the sequence of devices. Subjects Twenty-seven student volunteers (19 men and 8 women) were tested. Ages ranged from 21 to 41, mean age of 27.6 years of age. Data Active cervical spine ROM trials for each measurement was used to calculate mean and standard deviation. An overall analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni adjusted T-test were determined in order to calculate reliability and significance. Discussion The cost of the instruments were not used in determining reliability or significance. The single hinge inclinometer was found to be a reliable measure but not likely valid. The Cybex EDI 320 was found to be the best measuring device; however, the 2 instruments whose cost were in-between the single hinge inclinometer and the electrical goniometer were just as reliable as the more expensive device. The AMA Guides of Impairment were used as the normative data to compare these devices. Conclusion Since the devices could measure reliably, whether expensive or more cost effective for students they would likely make adequate devices for training students on the methods for measuring ROM. There is previous data to suggest that older populations have gender differences and age differences with ROM. This study could not measure that and would make a useful follow-up study.

MUSCLE ACTIVATION PATTERNS DURING TRUNK EXTENSION EXERCISE

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate muscle activation patterns of the lumbar extensors, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscles through a thirty degree range of motion (ROM), and to examine the effect of muscle fatigue on the patterns. METHODS: Sixteen healthy volunteers (21.7 +/− 2.9 yrs) participated in the study. Subjects performed dynamic trunk extensions to muscular failure on the Roman chair through a 30-degree ROM. An electric goniometer provided computerized position output. Surface electomyography (EMG) signals were recorded from the right L4-L5 paraspinal, gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscles. RMS EMG was determined and averaged over the first and last 4 repetitions in ten-degree increments (flexion, mid-phase and extension). A 2-way RM-ANOVA was utilized to investigate differences in activation patterns between movement phase and muscle fatigue state. RESULTS: EMG from each ROM phase with respect to muscle fatigue state are presented below (*fatigued > unfatigued; +Extension > Flexion; ++Mid-Phase > Flexion; p < 0.05). During dynamic trunk extension exercise there is no difference in lumbar EMG with respect to ROM, and no differences in EMG between pre- and post-fatigue. For both the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscles a ROM phase by fatigue state interaction was observed. Further analysis revealed the fatigued state resulted in significantly increased EMG compared to the unfatigued state at all angles for the gluteal and biceps femoris muscles. Additionally, for the gluteus maximus in the fatigued state a significant increase in EMG was observed from flexion to extension. The biceps femoris muscle also demonstrated a fatigue effect (unfatigued state: flexion < extension; fatigued state: flexion < mid-phase < extension). CONCLUSION: During trunk extension exercise, as one moves from flexion to extension the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris muscle activity increases, while the lumbar extensor activity does not. Additionally, muscle fatigue results in an altered recruitment pattern with the gluteal and biceps femoris muscles being activated to a greater extent in the extension phase.Table: No Caption Available

Influence of the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament injury on stability of the ankle-subtalar joint complex--a cadaveric experimental study.

The present study aims to clarify the influence of the interosseous talocalcaneal ligament (ITCL) injury associated with injury to the lateral ankle ligaments on the ankle-subtalar joint complex motion under conditions of physiologic loading. We conducted mechanical tests using five fresh cadaveric lower extremities. Each specimen was mounted in the loading device and an axial cyclic load from 9.8 to 686 N was applied. Three-dimensional rotations of the ankle and the subtalar joint were measured simultaneously by a linkage electric goniometer. Mechanical tests were repeated after sectioning of the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), and again after additional sectioning of the ITCL. In the intact condition, the ankle and the subtalar joints rotated consistently with increase of the load. The predominant rotations were plantar flexion and adduction at the ankle joint, with some eversion demonstrated at the subtalar joint. Although ATFL sectioning did not significantly change the motion of the two joints, additional sectioning of the ITCL significantly increased adduction and total rotation of the ankle joint. The present study demonstrated that a combined injury of the ATFL and the ITCL can induce anterolateral rotatory instability of the ankle joint under conditions of axial loading.

Movement dynamics and occupational embeddedness in a grasping and placing task

AbstractThe investigators examined the movement dynamics of 39 female participants aged 22–52 years during a grasping and placing task with objects having varying levels of occupational embeddedness. The occupationally embedded (OE) condition involved labelled soup cans, the limited occupationally embedded (LOE) condition used unlabelled soup cans, and the non‐occupationally embedded (NOE) condition used modelling clay having the same mass and relative size as the cans. The task involved grasping and placing the objects from a designated countertop location to a designated location on a cupboard shelf, with each condition involving three trials. It was hypothesized that the OE condition would yield the most efficient movement compared with the LOE condition, followed by the NOE condition. Data were collected using an electric goniometer placed on the participant's right elbow. Significance was found between the LOE and NOE conditions with angular displacement (p&lt;0.05) and in the OE and NOE conditions with movement units (p&lt;0.05). A limitation of the study was that there was little time between trials. This may have influenced participant performance on subsequent trials. In addition, the investigators were not blind to the hypotheses and could have inadvertently influenced the participant during data collection. Clinical implications include the importance of structuring the occupational forms to be as relevant to the occupation as possible. Future research is needed to examine the influence of contextual relevancy on occupational performance. Additionally, this line of research needs to be extended to special populations. Copyright © 1999 Whurr Publishers Ltd.

Head posture measurements among work vehicle drivers and implications for work and workplace design

An increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders, e.g. from the neck region, has been found among professional drivers of work vehicles. The purpose of this study was to identify causes of postural load and implications for vehicle design and work tasks. A second purpose was to develop the methods for measurement and analysis of head postures. Field measurements of head postures for drivers of fork lift trucks, forestry machines, and cranes were carried out. The equipment used was an electric goniometer measurement system, containing a mechanical transmission between the head and the upper trunk. Methods for data presentation and quantification were developed. The results showed that rotatable and movable driver cabins improved head postures and viewing angles substantially. Narrow window frame structures and large, optimally-placed windows were also advantageous. The steering wheel, controls, and a high backrest restricted shoulder rotation, which increased head rotation in unfavourable viewing angles. Improved workspace layouts and work organization factors such as job enlargement decreased the influence of strenuous postures. The results also showed that head postures should be analysed in two or three dimensions simultaneously, otherwise the postures taken will be underestimated in relation to the maximal voluntary movement.

Biomechanical effects of fatigue during continuous hurdle jumping.

Jumping drills that include several successive take-offs are popular in many sports events. An understanding of the effects of fatigue on biomechanical parameters during continuous jumping drills is important when selecting drills and their durations for sports training. In the present study, effects of continuous hurdle jumping on myoelectrical (EMG) activity, ground reaction forces, vertical movements of the body's centre of mass and knee joint angle kinematics were studied among eight male volleyball players (age 20-26 years). The subjects jumped hurdles (height 0.65 m) continuously for 45 s with bilateral foot contacts. All of the take-offs were performed from force-platforms which registered the three components of ground reaction force. The two middle take-offs in both directions were used for further analysis. Knee angular data were recorded by an electrical goniometer for determination of angular displacement and velocity. The jumping was videotaped sagittally to determine the location of the centre of mass at different phases of contact and flight, as well as to calculate the movement amplitude for the centre of mass. The EMG activity was monitored using surface electrodes, full-wave rectified and averaged for a pre-contact period of 55 ms as well as for the eccentric and concentric phases of contact for the M. rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and vastus medialis. The ground reaction forces and knee angular data were used to determine the eccentric and concentric phases of contact. The average EMG activity of the knee extensor muscles during the eccentric and concentric phases of contact increased during the jumping drill.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cerviocobrachial Syndrome:

Objectives: Our study evaluated the neck function in a group of patients with chronic cerviobrachial syndrome [CBS] and a group of healthy controls. A second objective was to study the effect of neck muscle training on CBS patients. Methods: We measured range of movement [ROM], maximum voluntary contraction [MVC] and isometric endurance at 60% of MVC [IE]. Measurements were made during dorsal, ventral and lateral flexion. ROM was measured with an electric goniometer, and MVC was measured by a strain guage dynamometer. A visual analog scale [VAS] was used to monitor pain perception. Results: In healthy subjects, ROM, MVS, and IE attained the highest values during dorsal flexion, whereas values obtained during ventral and lateral flexion were of comparable magnitude. Patients with CBS showed a decrease in ROM during dorsal flexion, a decrease in MVC in all directions and a decrease in IE during dorsal and lateral flexion. Two months of intensive neck muscle training improved both MVC- and VAS-values. Conclusions: Our results are in accordance with findings in studies of the trunk musculature. The reestablishment of muscular strength and agonist/antagonist ratios appears to be of therapeutic value in CBS, as has been the case with chronic low back rehabilitation.

Electric goniometer for positioning children with cerebral palsy. Suggestion from the field.

The spatial relationship between the angle of inclination of a seating system's backrest from the seat and the hip flexion angle has not been established for children with cerebral palsy. Therefore, the child's hip flexion angle should not be described as the angle between the seat and the backrest unless the relationship between the hip flexion angle and the backrest's angle of inclination is established. The purpose of this article is to describe the components, operation, and uses of an electric goniometer designed to monitor and measure changes in hip flexion angle while positioning children with cerebral palsy. The position of the hip joint during sitting is crucial to the overall effectiveness of the seating system for children with cerebral palsy. Clinical observations1,2 and research results3 suggest that the position of the hip joint contributes to controlling hyperactive muscle activity.…

Diazepam in the treatment of spasticity: A preliminary quantitative evaluation

THE DEVELOPMENT of muscle relaxant drugs has substantially strengthened general supportive therapy of neurologically disabled patients suffering from spasticity [l]. As a result of their action, symptomatic relief has been afforded to many patients for whom previously little could be done. The quantitative assessment of spasticity is of obvious importance when trying to evaluate response to spasmolytic therapy in general and to muscle relaxant drugs in particular. Several authors have described ways of measuring spasticity. TIMBERLAKE [2] used a gravity driven ergograph. ERDMAN [3] employed the light-beam reflection method using a strain-loaded reflex hammer and a lint-urn r&e&or. WEBSTER f4] measured the integration of torque in response to passive angular movement. LEAVRT and BEASLEY [5] introduced the correlation of electromyographic potentials in extensor and flexor muscles concurrently with resistive forces produced by a tensiometer and the angular position measured by an electric goniometer. Our method depends essentially on the integration of raw EMG data obtained by surface electromyography with the skeletal muscle hype~onia recorded either as a spontaneo~ event or as a response to specific stimulation 16, 71. As part of an extensive muscle relaxant program at this clinic a quantitative study of diazepam (Valium@,) was undertaken. Early reports indicated that diazepam had a high safety index and potency as a muscle relaxant 18, 91, considerations of great importance in dealing with spasticity in advanced neurologic~ disorders. It was decided to carry this study out open rather than a double-blind inasmuch as it was a preliminary investigation. It was intended to do a double-blind study at a future date.

Human equilibrium in standing position

It is well known that the momentary sways of the human body in standing position as shown in cephalogram has never been studied. The purpose of this study is to examine exactly the human equilbrium in standing position by means of recording acceleration registogram (ARG). The subjects testd are 20 normal adults. The accelerometer (120A-ID) is fixed on the top of the helmet as the effective plane of the accelerometer is just right angle with the frontooccipital axis of the head. Each subject wearing the helmet stands on normal position and Mann's position for 40 seconds. Also he stands on the plank of the electric goniometer (Honjo) till he falls down from the plank. The body movement of the subjects during the test is recorded by means of acceleration registrogram (ARG). The waves of ARG in normal standing position are composed of waves of short amplitude (less than 0.1g) either the subject closes his eyes or not. The waves of ARG in Mann's position are mainly composed of waves of short amplitude either the subject closes his eyes or not. Occasiong) are recognized, but they are not observed continuously. When the subject stands on the plank of the goniometer the waves of ARG (Gonio-ARG) are mainly composed of waves of short amplitude, while a few waves having medium amplitude are recognized, but they are not observed continuosly. The waves of ARG in normal position and Mann's position have comparatively larger amplitude at the first one-fourth period than at the next three fourth. However, the waves of Gonio-ARG have larger amplitudes at the last half period when he closes his eyes. The influence of vision upon the waves of ARG in normal position is hardly proved, and great influence of vision upon the waves of ARG is clarified when he stands in Mann's position or on the plank of the goniometer. The whip-foot does not influence on the patterns of ARG in standing position. The waves of ARG has several patterns, e.g., the pattern deviating to the left, to the right or the pattern withont deviation.