title: Dependence of elbow joint stiffness measurements on speed, angle, and muscle contraction level.
abstract: Elbow joint stiffness is critical to positioning the hand. Abnormal elbow joint stiffness may affect a person's ability to participate in activities of daily living. In this work, elbow joint stiffness was measured in ten healthy young adults with a device adapted from one previously used to measure stiffness in other joints. Measurements of elbow stiffness involved applying a constant-velocity rotational movement to the elbow and measuring the resultant displacement, torque, and acceleration. Elbow stiffness was then computed using a previously-established model for joint stiffness. Measurements were made at two unique elbow joint angles, two speeds, and two forearm muscle contraction levels. The results indicate that the elbow joint stiffness is significantly affected by both rotational speed and forearm muscle contraction level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; Center for Rehabilitation Engineering Science and Technology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA. Electronic address: lkuxhaus@clarkson.edu.
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuxhaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA.
authors.forename: Sisi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; Center for Rehabilitation Engineering Science and Technology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA.
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006225:Hand; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Elbow rotation; Elbow stiffness; Joint kinetics; Upper extremity