title: A novel device for standardizing marker placement at the calcaneus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The determination of anatomical reference frames in the rearfoot during three-dimensional multisegment foot modeling has been hindered by a variety of factors. One of these factors is related to the difficulty in palpating, or the absence of, anatomical landmarks. A novel device (the Calcaneal Marker Device) aimed at standardizing marker placement at the calcaneus was, therefore, developed and evaluated for its reliability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Throughout a random repeated-measures design, the repeatability of calcaneal marker placement was evaluated for two techniques: manual placement and placement using the Calcaneal Marker Device. Translational changes after marker placement and the clinical effect on intersegment angle calculation were quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraobserver variability was greater in therapist 2 (<5.3 mm) compared with therapist 1 (<2.9 mm). Intraobserver variability was also found to be less than 1.6 mm throughout use of the device. Interobserver variability was found to be significantly higher for the position of markers placed manually (5.8 mm), whereas with the Calcaneal Marker Device, the variability remained lower (<1.3 mm). The effect on the computed intersegment angles followed a similar trend, with variability of 0.4° to 4.0° and 1.0° to 8.7° for CMD and manual placement, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that variations in marker placement are considerably reduced when the novel Calcaneal Marker Device is used, possibly toward the limits dictated by the fine motor skills of therapists and tissue artifacts.
authors: Laboratory for Clinical Motion Analysis, University Hospital Pellenberg, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium. Dr. Deschamps is now with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences - Research Center for Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Deschamps
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Roosen
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Birch
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Dingenen
authors: Herman
authors: H
authors: Bruyninckx
authors: Kaat
authors: K
authors: Desloovere
authors: Erwin
authors: E
authors: Aertbelien
authors: Filip
authors: F
authors: Staes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002111:Calcaneus; D004867:Equipment Design; D006365:Heel; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011032:Podiatry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult