TY - JOUR
T1 - A mechanical sensor designed for dynamic joint angle measurement
AU - Ching, Congo Tak Shing
AU - Liao, Su Yu
AU - Cheng, Teng Yun
AU - Cheng, Chih Hsiu
AU - Sun, Tai Ping
AU - Yao, Yan Dong
AU - Hsiao, Chin Sung
AU - Chang, Kang Ming
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by a grant (105-2221-E-005-089-) from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Congo Tak-Shing Ching et al.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Background. The measurement of the functional range of motion (FROM) of lower limb joints is an essential parameter for gait analysis especially in evaluating rehabilitation programs. Aim. To develop a simple, reliable, and affordable mechanical goniometer (MGR) for gait analysis, with six-degree freedom to dynamically assess lower limb joint angles. Design. Randomized control trials, in which a new MGR was developed for the measurements of FROM of lower limb joints. Setting. Reliability of the designed MGR was evaluated and validated by a motion analysis system (MAS). Population. Thirty healthy subjects participated in this study. Methods. Reliability and validity of the new MGR were tested by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, and linear correlation analysis. Results. The MGR has good inter- and intrarater reliability and validity with ICC ≥ 0 93 (for both). Moreover, measurements made by MGR and MAS were comparable and repeatable with each other, as confirmed by Bland-Altman plots. Furthermore, a very high degree of linear correlation (R ≥ 0 92 for all joint angle measurements) was found between the lower limb joint angles measured by MGR and MAS. Conclusion. A simple, reliable, and affordable MGR has been designed and developed to aid clinical assessment and treatment evaluation of gait disorders.
AB - Background. The measurement of the functional range of motion (FROM) of lower limb joints is an essential parameter for gait analysis especially in evaluating rehabilitation programs. Aim. To develop a simple, reliable, and affordable mechanical goniometer (MGR) for gait analysis, with six-degree freedom to dynamically assess lower limb joint angles. Design. Randomized control trials, in which a new MGR was developed for the measurements of FROM of lower limb joints. Setting. Reliability of the designed MGR was evaluated and validated by a motion analysis system (MAS). Population. Thirty healthy subjects participated in this study. Methods. Reliability and validity of the new MGR were tested by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, and linear correlation analysis. Results. The MGR has good inter- and intrarater reliability and validity with ICC ≥ 0 93 (for both). Moreover, measurements made by MGR and MAS were comparable and repeatable with each other, as confirmed by Bland-Altman plots. Furthermore, a very high degree of linear correlation (R ≥ 0 92 for all joint angle measurements) was found between the lower limb joint angles measured by MGR and MAS. Conclusion. A simple, reliable, and affordable MGR has been designed and developed to aid clinical assessment and treatment evaluation of gait disorders.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85036663711&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1155/2017/8465212
DO - 10.1155/2017/8465212
M3 - Article
C2 - 29065653
AN - SCOPUS:85036663711
SN - 2040-2295
VL - 2017
JO - Journal of Healthcare Engineering
JF - Journal of Healthcare Engineering
M1 - 8465212
ER -