Goniometric Device Research Articles

Inclinometers and Apps Are Better than Goniometers, Measuring Knee Extension Range of Motion in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Patients: Reliability and Minimal Detectable Change for the Three Devices.

Knee extension range of motion (ROM) measurement is important in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The main objective is to evaluate the reliability and the minimal detectable change (MDC) of three methods of measuring knee extension ROM in ACL patients. The three common goniometric devices were a universal goniometer, an inclinometer, and a smartphone app. During a single-visit, knee extension ROM was measured in both knees of 92 ACL-injured or -reconstructed patients by two testers blinded to the other's measures. Intrarater, interrater, and test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1) were calculated. Intrarater ICC2,1 was excellent for the three devices ranging from 0.92 to 0.94, with the inclinometer yielding the best results (ICC2,1 = 0.94 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.91-0.96]). Interrater ICC2,1, however, varied from 0.36 to 0.80. The inclinometer and the smartphone app yielded similar results 0.80 (95% CI: 0.71-0.86) and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70-0.86), respectively, whereas the universal goniometer was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.17-0.53). Test-retest ICC2,1 for the inclinometer was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84-0.93), 0.86 (95% CI: 0.79-0.91) for the app, and 0.83 (95% CI:0.74-0.89) for the goniometer. The intrarater, interrater, and test-retest MDC95 values ranged from 2.0 to 3.5, 3.7 to 10.4, and 2.6 to 5.4 degrees, respectively. The goniometer was the least reliable. The inclinometer is the recommended device due to its highest ICC scores among the three devices and ease of use.

Analysis of the concurrent validity and reliability of five common clinical goniometric devices

Measurement errors play an important role in the development of goniometric equipment, devices used to measure range of motion. Reasonable validity and reliability are critical for both the device and examiner before and after to testing in human subjects. The objective is to evaluate the concurrent validity and reliability of five different clinical goniometric devices for the purpose of establishing an acceptable measurement error margin for a novel device. We explored the validity and inter- and intrarater reliability scores of five goniometric devices namely (i) the universal goniometer (UG), a two-armed hand-held goniometer, (ii) the inclinometer (IC), featuring a single base, fluid level, and gravity-weighted inclinometer, (iii) the digital inclinometer (DI), functioning as both a DI and dynamometer, (iv) the smartphone application (SA), employing gyroscope-based technology within a smartphone platform application and (v) the modified inclinometer (MI), a gravity pendulum-based inclinometer equipped with a specialized fixing apparatus. Measurements were obtained at 12 standard angles and 8 human shoulder flexion angles ranging from 0° to 180°. Over two testing sessions, 120 standardized angle measurements and 160 shoulder angle measurements from 20 shoulders were repetitively taken by three examiners for each device. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated to assess reliability and validity. Concurrent validity was also evaluated through the execution of the 95% limit of agreement (95% LOA) and Bland–Altman plots, with comparisons made to the UG. The concurrent validity for all device pairs was excellent in both study phases (ICC > 0.99, 95% LOA − 4.11° to 4.04° for standard angles, and − 10.98° to 11.36° for human joint angles). Inter- and intrarater reliability scores for standard angles were excellent across all devices (ICC > 0.98, SEM 0.59°–1.75°, MDC 1°–4°), with DI showing superior reliability. For human joint angles, device reliability ranged from moderate to excellent (ICC 0.697–0.975, SEM 1.93°–4.64°, MDC 5°–11° for inter-rater reliability; ICC 0.660–0.996, SEM 0.77°–4.06°, MDC 2°–9° for intra-rater reliability), with SA demonstrating superior reliability. Wider angle measurement however resulted in reduced device reliability. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that it is essential to assess measurement errors independently for standard and human joint angles. The DI is the preferred reference for standard angle testing, while the SA is recommended for human joint angle testing. Separate evaluations across the complete 0°–180° range offer valuable insights.

In situ elastic constant determination of unidirectional CFRP composites via backwall reflected multi-mode ultrasonic bulk waves using a linear array probe

The determination of elastic constants of a transversely isotropic carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composite is the prerequisite of mechanical strength calculation, material degradation evaluation, ultrasonic non-destructive testing for main load-bearing CFRP structures both after manufacturing and in service. Conventional ultrasonic methods request extra sample preparation, water immersion condition or special designed goniometric devices to rotate the test structures, making the elastic constants measurement expensive, inconvenient and not in situ. In this paper, a novel ultrasonic method that enables in situ determination of elastic constants via backwall reflection method (BRM) using a linear array probe is proposed. The BRM can achieve single sided measurement of ultrasonic travel times in various directions including the fiber direction using different pairs of transmitter and receiver array elements. Both quasi longitudinal and quasi shear waves are captured via the mode conversions from the multiple surface reflections. All elastic constants are determined through the particle swarm optimization by minimizing the sum of the squared deviations between the BRM measured and theoretically calculated multi-mode bulk wave travel times in the fiber orthogonal and parallel planes. This method is experimentally verified on a 4.45 mm thick unidirectional T700 carbon fiber/epoxy CFRP composite. The BRM measured Young's modulus in the fiber direction agrees well with that measured by tensile test, with a small deviation of −4.58%. This work proves that the proposed method is single sided, easy to operate, without the necessity of sample preparation, water immersion and extra rotation device, and can determine all elastic constants with high precision, which is therefore promising for in situ applications.

Clinical reliability and usability of smartphone goniometers for hip range of motion measurement

[Purpose] This study aimed to utilize the objective measurements and a survey questionnaire for assessing the intra- and inter-rater reliability, measurement time, and usability of a smartphone application type of goniometer to measure the hip joint angles. [Participants and Methods] Three examiners (physiotherapists) measured the hip joint range of motion using universal and smartphone goniometers on 30 daycare center rehabilitation patients. Reliability was calculated using the intra-class correlation coefficient. The examiners completed a questionnaire survey for assessing the usability of the goniometers. [Results] The intra-rater reliability was high, but the inter-rater reliability was low. Measurement times using the two instruments showed no difference. The usability questionnaire findings suggested that the smartphone goniometer was easier to use than the universal goniometer. [Conclusion] Reliability within the raters was high, but reliability among the raters was low. However, both goniometric devices provided a satisfactory range of motion measurement data when a single evaluator used the same device for all measurements.

Calibration of rotary encoders with different interfaces by means of a dynamic goniometer

Rotary optical encoders are widely used in all areas of industry, robotics, and special equipment. The accurate measurement of their characteristics is a necessary task for their successful implementation. We attempt to find a unified approach to determining the accuracy of rotary encoders. The proposed approach is based on statistics and code reliability, which characterizes the probability that the measured code corresponds to the specified code. To determine the code reliability, one has to measure the turn angle with a goniometric device and compare the measured values with the encoder codes. The paper considers the dynamic goniometer for determining the error of absolute angle encoders, which allows for highly accurate measurements in a wide range of rotation rates. The measurement is made at certain moments of time, depending on the electrical interface of the encoder. In the case of a parallel interface, the time points are determined by the moment when the encoder code changes. This data collection allows for obtaining a general population. In the case of an encoder, with the sequential approach to reading the code, it is not possible to obtain the general population in a wide range of rotation rates. We analyze the above-mentioned case in detail and present experimental data obtained with a dynamic goniometer and the results of code reliability calculations.

Optical systems of goniometers with uncemented geometrical-reference channels

This paper presents and analyzes nonmisadjustable optical systems of goniometric devices with the most stable uncemented geometrical-reference channels, using the stellar devices of spacecraft-orientation systems as examples.

Measurement Properties of Outcome Measures Used to Assess Physical Impairments in Patients After Distal Radius Fracture: A Systematic Review.

Individuals with distal radius fractures (DRF) may experience difficulty with gripping an object, painful wrist movements, sensorimotor difficulties, and swelling around the wrist and hand. A comprehensive review of the existing evidence concerning the measurement properties of common physical impairment measures can provide a valuable resource to guide hand therapy practice while managing DRF. The primary objective was to locate and assess the quality of literature on the measurement properties for the measures of physical impairment used in individuals with DRF. Two reviewers searched PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE. A combination of DRF, measurement properties, and physical impairments were used as keywords, and articles were independently assessed using the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments critical appraisal tool. Primary studies were included if they examined at least 1 of the following: reliability, validity, responsiveness, or indices of true and meaningful changes for measures of physical impairment in the DRF sample. A total of 19 articles were included in this review. The quality of the studies ranged from 46% to 92%. This review suggests that measures such as assessment of grip strength and supination and pronation range of motion (ROM), using various goniometric devices, showed good intrarater and interrater reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness in individuals with DRF. Acceptable reliability and responsiveness were reported in grip and wrist ROM assessments for measuring changes in wrist and hand function after DRF; however, wrist ROM assessed using traditional goniometric techniques were less reliable in individuals with DRF. This study provides insight into which objective tools might be better suited for measuring outcomes related to DRF.

Development of Methods for Navigational Referencing of Circumlunar Spacecrafts to the Selenocentric Dynamic Coordinate System

The initial form of present-day space optical observations contain considerable geometrical and brightness distortions. This problem can be solved based on geometrical correction and transformation of reference object coordinates into commonly accepted cartographic projections. In this work, the method of coordinate transformation to the reference selenocentric dynamic system by using a base of reference selenographic objects as electronic maps is considered. The transformation process presupposes the formation of a photogrammetrically corrected image and identification of observed objects included into the electronic maps. Height data of on the Moon’s surface are determined from known observed selenographic coordinates with respect to reference objects by software tools. Preliminary selenographic coordinates can be determined using both ground positional observations and onboard goniometric devices such as a laser interferometer.

Making an efficient but cost-effective automated goniometric device for a light-scattering study

A goniometer is an instrument which is frequently used in optics and other branches of physics. It enables the study of light scattered in various directions from a solid, liquid or powdered sample. The goniometric instruments that are already available on the market are designed for a specific purpose and are quite costly. Fully-computerized devices—which automatically acquire data and control the positions of the light source and detector—are even more expensive. In this work, the instrumentation of a self-fabricated, low cost, but fully computerized goniometric instrument designed for studying a light-scattering problem in planetary science is described in detail. This device uses Arduino microcontroller boards for acquiring data, and stepper motors are employed for automated control of the positions of the light source and detector. A low-cost but high-intensity laser diode was used as the light source, and a very sensitive photodiode integrated circuit was used as the light detector. This work has a pedagogical value in the sense that the reader will benefit from learning about the techniques used, the components and their calibration, the software, etc. More importantly, the cost-effectiveness of this work may be beneficial to many experimentalists and instrument designers working in this field, to control their project budgets.

MÉTODO ALTERNATIVO PARA LA EVALUACIÓN DE LA POLUCIÓN ATMOSFÉRICA CAUSADA POR LA QUEMA DE BIOMASA EN PLANTACIONES DE CAÑA DE AZUCAR

This paper describes an alternative method to assess atmospheric pollution levels caused by the burning of sugar cane fields during the harvest, affecting visibility in nearby residential areas. The samples of atmospheric dispersed material were taken on glass slides exposed to the environment on different periods of time. The scattered light by these samples is measured using a digital goniometric device that moves a CCD around each sample with 2,0 arc min resolution. Scattering measurements reveals that it is possible to differentiate between the samples of 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours of integration. This method is more sensitive because it integrates through time, even when the concentrations of contaminants are low. Based on Beer-Lambert scattering model, the scattered light on the samples is related to the atmospheric extinction coefficient and the meteorological visibility measured in the same days. A good linear correlation for the different time periods (R2 > 0.94)was obtained. Finally, measured scattering levels were compared to the intraocular scattering ones calculated from CIE equation, obtaining similar values to eyes of 80 years old people

Goniometer for monitoring geometric parameters of large transformable spacecraft antennas

A static high-precision goniometric device with a receiver and transmitter optical system with a field of view of 90°, which allows both the measurement of the angular coordinates of directions toward control elements with an error of 13′′ and the imaging of the reflector of the spacecraft antenna in any part of the orbit, is being developed. It is comparatively evaluated with similar onboard shape and position monitoring systems. The design features of the optical system of the device are determined. The main functional modes of operation are described.

Evaluation of damage anisotropy induced in GFRP composite materials by an innovative ultrasonic experimental approach

We present a theoretical and experimental approach for the characterization of the damage induced anisotropy superimposed to the constitutive anisotropy of fiber-reinforced composite materials. The theoretical model here employed has been developed in the framework of the Continuum Damage Mechanics theory and allows for determining a tensorial damage measure based on the change of the elastic moduli of the composite material. Moreover, the model is general since it is applicable independently of the fibers reinforcement nature, of the presence of cracks, interlaminar voids and delamination, of the geometry of this cracks, and from of failure mechanisms of the composite materials. We perform damage experiments by using an innovative goniometric device designed and built at our laboratory (Laboratorio “M. Salvati”), and aimed at the mechanical characterization of materials. In particular, by rotating the sample into a water tank, we measure the ultrasonic “natural” velocities of the undamaged composite material along suitable propagation directions. This allows us for classifying the degree of symmetry of the material and for determining the elastic constants, also in highly anisotropic materials. Then we measure the ultrasonic velocities of the artificially damaged composite and we determine again the elastic moduli. The comparison between the elastic moduli of the damaged and the undamaged composite allows us for the characterization of the above cited anisotropic tensorial damage measure.

Laboratory photometry of regolith analogues: Effect of porosity

New Laboratory phase curves are presented, to examine the effect of porosity on reflectance as a function of phase angle for grain size having dimension about half, twice and those larger than the illuminating wavelength. The experimental setup used for generating reflectance data is a goniometric device developed at the Department of Physics, Assam University, Silchar, India. Some of the well-documented samples having different sizes were chosen; alumina, olivine, basalt, rutile, chromite and iron. The sample surfaces were prepared with different porosities, in order to simulate natural regolith surface as much as possible. The wavelength of observation is 632.8 nm. A model based on the Radiative Transfer Equation is presented here to analyze and model the laboratory data. In the present modelling work, the empirical relation of Hapke, Mie theory and Henyey–Greenstein phase function are used. For particles having dimension about half, twice to the wavelength, Mie theory is used to calculate single scattering albedo. Although the Mie theory is insufficient for describing the scattering properties of particles larger than the wavelength, for such large particle single scattering albedo (SSA) is estimated through method of best fit. It has been found that, the porosity has a distinguishable effect on reflectance. Also the contribution of multiple scattering function for different porosity is examined. Further the results presented in the current work, demonstrates the light scattering properties of a diverse collections of regolith like samples.

Goniospectrometric space: identifiable presentation of spectral goniometric data for complex diffractive samples.

Optical security takes advantage of complex gonioapparent effects of diffractive samples having strong angular and spectral dependence of reflected light. However, resolving the full angular and spectral properties of these kinds of targets might be a tremendous task. Preferably, one would like to measure a more limited number of illumination-viewing directions, using a multiangle goniometer, and still reveal the complex and unique properties of the target. In this study, we use a method for converting the full angular reflection data into reduced goniospectrometric space and further on into an xDNA graph, which we find to show good potential as a fingerprint for gonioapparent surfaces when limited measurement geometries are available. For the evaluation of the xDNA graph, we use two goniometric devices with a 45° incident angle illumination, a high-resolution bidirectional spectrometer, and a portable multiangle goniometer. This study tests the xDNA graph by evaluating the effects of geometry count and spectral resolution in goniometric measurements and further finds that the xDNA graph indeed works best with a reduced count of geometries and is not sensitive to lowered spectral resolution.

Evaluation of the Effects of Surface Roughness on the Relationship Between Soil BRF Data and Broadband Albedo

This paper reports a preliminary study on correctness of the broadband albedo (α <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">b</sub> ) of cultivated soils that could be calculated by their narrowband bidirectional reflectance factors (BRF) measured from many directions with a prototype goniometric device in a laboratory on their samples with similar roughness, as these soils revealed in the field. The correctness was tested on examples of Phaeozem, Luvisol, and Albeluvisol with roughness formed by a plow, disk harrow, pulverizing harrow, and smoothing harrow. The α <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">b</sub> values of the soils calculated using the equation proposed here were not affected by the root mean square error higher than 0.01 as compared to the data measured in the field if the BRF data were obtained on the soil samples with a sufficiently low roughness. It was found that the roughness of those soil samples should be sufficiently low to ensure that the values of their height standard deviation along the length of the minor axis of a sensor field of view area are greater than 15.

Characterization of Material Damage by Ultrasonic Immersion Test

We present an innovative non-destructive experimental technique for a quantitative determination of the damage level in structural components. In particular, we study the propagation of ultrasonic waves in an isotropic material specimen before and after a mechanical fatigue incremental test. To this aim, we use an innovative goniometric device for ultrasonic immersion tests, designed and built for the mechanical characterization of anisotropic materials. In the first test, performed in absence of damage, we characterize the mechanical behavior of the isotropic material by the measure of time of flight (TOF) of ultrasonic waves, and then by determining the so-called natural velocities. In the next ultrasonic tests, performed after each fatigue test, we determine the response of the damaged material by measuring again the velocity of ultrasonic waves: the comparison between these velocities and the natural velocities allows for the evaluation of the level of damage in the material. Moreover, through the goniometric ultrasonic immersion device it is possible to relate the damage to the stress-induced anisotropyacquired by the specimen, which we characterize by identifying the acoustic axes and the dependence of the velocity of the ultrasonic waves on the direction of propagation.

Effects of Different Illumination and Observation Techniques of Cultivated Soils on Their Hyperspectral Bidirectional Measurements Under Field and Laboratory Conditions

This paper evaluates the fitting of the hyperspectral bidirectional reflectance data of soil surfaces formed by a cultivator, a pulverizing harrow, and a smoothing harrow, collected in field conditions as illuminated by direct and diffuse solar radiation, to their bidirectional reflectance equivalents measured in the laboratory with only a direct radiation component using the same soil materials shaped such that their roughness was similar to that formed in the field by the farming tools mentioned above. Both kinds of data were measured by the same ASD FieldSpec 3 spectrophotometer attached to goniometric devices, which observed the soil surfaces under the same directions, pointing at various fragments of the surface under field conditions and always pointing at the center of the soil samples under laboratory conditions. The worst average fit for the analyzed soil surfaces did not exceed 36%. The fit was weaker if the soil was spectrally darker with a lower spectrum level, especially at lower solar zenith angles and higher soil surface roughness. It was found that the fit increased from 400 to 450 nm, and decreased especially for wavelengths between 1950 and 2300 nm. A less significant decrease in fit was revealed at around of 700, 940, and 1140 nm.

Comparison of Strain-Gage and Fiber-Optic Goniometry for Measuring Knee Kinematics During Activities of Daily Living and Exercise

There is increasing interest in wearable sensor technology as a tool for rehabilitation applications in community or home environments. Recent studies have focused on evaluating inertial based sensing (accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.) that provide only indirect measures of joint motion. Measurement of joint kinematics using flexible goniometry is more direct, and still popular in laboratory environments, but has received little attention as a potential tool for wearable systems. The aim of this study was to compare two goniometric devices: a traditional strain-gauge flexible goniometer, and a fiberoptic flexible goniometer, for measuring dynamic knee flexion/extension angles during activity of daily living: chair rise, and gait; and exercise: deep knee bends, against joint angles computed from a "gold standard" Vicon motion tracking system. Six young adults were recruited to perform the above activities in the lab while wearing a goniometer on each knee, and reflective markers for motion tracking. Kinematic data were collected simultaneously from the goniometers (one on each leg) and the motion tracking system (both legs). The results indicate that both goniometers were within 2-5 degrees of the Vicon angles for gait and chair rise. For some deep knee bend trials, disagreement with Vicon angles exceeded ten degrees for both devices. We conclude that both goniometers can record ADL knee movement faithfully and accurately, but should be carefully considered when high (>120 deg) knee flexion angles are required.

Furrow Microrelief Influence on the Directional Hyperspectral Reflectance of Soil at Various Illumination and Observation Conditions

This paper describes the results of an experiment designed to investigate the effects of furrow microrelief on the soil hyperspectral directional reflectance collected at various illumination and observation conditions. The reflectance of four soil surfaces formed by the same sandy material, one smooth and the others with furrows of different depth, were measured by a laboratory prototype goniometric spectral device. The most notable effects of the furrows on the hyperspectral bidirectional reflectance factor of the surfaces were observed along the vertical plane perpendicular to their furrows at high view zenith angles (as degrees from the nadir), particularly if the light-source zenith angle θs is extremely high, and its beams reach the furrows at the horizontal angle of 90°. It was also found that the absorption features of the soil material used in the experiment, located at around 1420 nm, become less visible with the increase of the θs, independent of the shape of the surfaces.

The differences in the ankle range of motion in distinct ethnical groups measured by goniometry

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate if there are any differences in the range of motion of the ankle joint for distinct ethnicities measured by goniometry. A total of 288 ankles of 152 individuals were evaluated and divided into four ethnic groups: 18 male and 20 female Caucasians (75 ankles), 11 male and 26 female Oriental individuals (72 ankles), 25 male and 16 female Black people (70 ankles) and 19 male and 17 female Mulattos (71 ankles). All of the participants were of similar ages and were examined in a single evaluation in the morning by the same examiner using the same goniometric device. Statistical analysis was achieved using means and standard deviation and a comparison of the scores, z-statistics of the normal distribution were calculated with an alpha error of 5% considered acceptable. The total mean obtained from all ethnical groups, considering both left and right legs and both genders, was 60.45°. The averages of the distinct ethnicities were: 63.84° for Caucasians, 66.91° for Orientals, 55.21° for Black people and 55.87° for Mulattos. All groups were significantly different in relation to ankle motion range compared to the other groups, except between Black people and Mulattos. There were statistically significant differences when separately analyzing the means of goniometric measures of the right and left ankles in men and women of the Caucasian and Oriental ethnic groups. Conclusion: There are significant differences in respect to the ankle motion range among the distinct pure ethnic groups and there is a predominance of characteristics of Black people in the Mulatto group in respect to this variable compared to Caucasian traits.