The role of the biomechanics laboratory in the analysis of the gait of individuals with arthritis.
The function of a biomechanics laboratory is to measure those aspects of an individual patient's performance that cannot be quantitatively assessed in the clinical setting. Essential equipment provides the ability to measure gait events, ground reactive forces, kinematics (movement of the body and its segments in 3 dimensions), electromyographic activity, and oxygen consumption. A minicomputer with video screen is required to process the data and allow visual checks of the functioning of the system. Such things as moments around joints and deforming forces may be calculated from the measured variables. Illustrations are given of a schematic laboratory system, computer generated stick diagrams, real-time changes in forces, moment-arms, moments, and excursions, in addition to the alteration of these variables in tibial nerve paralysis and degenerative arthritis of the knee.
Lehmann
J F
JF
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle 98195.
Price
R
R
Condon
S M
SM
de Lateur
B J
BJ
D001168:Arthritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories