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Technique for in vivo measurement of the three‐dimensional kinematics and laxity characteristics of the ankle joint complex
Author(s) -
Siegler Sorin,
Wang Dinghua,
Plasha Elizabeth,
Berman Arnold T.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of orthopaedic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.041
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1554-527X
pISSN - 0736-0266
DOI - 10.1002/jor.1100120315
Subject(s) - ankle , kinematics , intraclass correlation , range of motion , joint (building) , biomechanics , physical medicine and rehabilitation , medicine , reliability (semiconductor) , motion (physics) , orthodontics , population , physical therapy , mathematics , computer science , surgery , anatomy , engineering , artificial intelligence , power (physics) , statistics , physics , structural engineering , reproducibility , quantum mechanics , environmental health , classical mechanics
Abstract We introduce here a technique to measure the three‐dimensional kinematics and laxity characteristics of the ankle joint complex in vivo . The system consists of an optoelectric, kinematic data acquisition system that is used to measure the motion of the ankle joint complex in response to controlled moments applied through a system of pneumatic actuators. As a first step toward development of the method into a quantitative diagnostic tool for injuries of ankle ligaments, we addressed the following questions: (a) What is the reliability for measurement of range of motion and laxity of the ankle joint complex? (b) Are there significant differences in laxity between the left and right joints of a healthy individual? and (c) Are there significant differences in laxity of the ankle joint complex between men and women? To answer these questions, we performed repeated measures of range of motion and laxity of paired ankles in a population of 18 healthy young individuals. The high intraclass correlation coefficients obtained from the statistical analysis indicate that the new experimental system is highly reliable in measurement of total range of motion and total laxity of the ankle joint complex. We further concluded that, within the statistical power available in our experimental design, there are no significant differences in either range of motion or laxity between left and right ankles of healthy individuals or between men and women.