title: Static and dynamic human flexor tendon-pulley interaction.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of a preceding flexion or extension movement on the static interaction of human finger flexor tendons and pulleys concerning flexion torque being generated. Six human fresh frozen cadaver long fingers were mounted in an isokinetic movement device for the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. During flexion and extension movement both flexor tendons were equally loaded with 40N while the generated moment was depicted simultaneously at the fingertip. The movement was stopped at various positions of the proximal interphalangeal joint to record dynamic and static torque. The static torque was always greater after a preceding extension movement compared to a preceding flexion movement in the corresponding same position of the joint. This applied for the whole arc of movement of 0-105 degrees . The difference between static extension and flexion torque was maximal 11% in average at about 83 degrees of flexion. Static torque was always smaller than dynamic torque during extension movement and always greater than dynamic torque during flexion movement. The kind of preceding movement therefore showed an influence to the torque being generated in the proximal interphalangeal joint. The effect could be simulated on a mechanical finger device.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Universitätsklinik Balgrist, CH 8008 Zürich, Switzerland. andreas.schweizer@balgrist.ch
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: Beat K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Moor
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Jess G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Snedeker
authors.forename: Jess G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Snedecker
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005384:Finger Joint; D050278:Finger Phalanges; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*; D019415:Torque