title: Clinical assessment of the low-cost VariCom isokinetic knee exerciser.
abstract: A low-cost isokinetic knee exerciser, known as the VariCom and developed with the emphasis on fulfilling the rehabilitation needs of developing countries, was subjected to a clinical evaluation. The evaluation was motivated by successful laboratory assessment of the exerciser as well as encouraging qualitative data acquired recently from a developing world hospital. The principal aim of this study was to demonstrate that the exerciser, employing a simple shock-absorber and lever mechanism, was capable of fulfilling the major criteria required from isokinetic equipment. Amongst the most important of these were attainment of a 'spectrum of velocities', patient safety, reliability, ease-of-use, patient comfort and estimation of the torque generated by the patient's knee-joint. It was ultimately demonstrated that the combination of design simplicity, durability and functionality renders the VariCom knee-exerciser technologically appropriate for use in developing countries. More generally, the success of the exerciser, combined with its low manufacturing cost, renders it a viable alternative to traditional up-market equipment.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Diesel
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Noakes
mesh_terms: D001698:Biomedical Engineering; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*