Clinical Biomechanics
Volume 16, Issue 1 , Pages 84-86, January 2001

Graphical presentation of the range of hip and knee rotations for clinical evaluation of gait

  • Pei Lai Cheng

      Affiliations

    • Present address: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada K7L 3N6.
    • ,
  • Mark Pearcy

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author

School of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Medical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, 2 George Street, QLD 4001 Brisbane, Australia

Received 28 September 1999; accepted 23 August 2000.

Abstract 

Objective. This paper reports a method of using a multi-axis graph to represent the range of rotations at the hip and knee joints during gait for clinical evaluation of a patient's performance.

Design and methods. The multi-axis graph uses 12 symmetrically arranged axes to represent each component of range of rotations at the hip and knee joints of both legs. The range of joint rotations of thirteen normal subjects and two patients were measured using an electromagnetic motion tracking system with four foot switches.

Results. The range of joint rotations of normal subjects shows a symmetrical star in the multi-axis graph. Abnormal function of a patient shows an asymmetrical star.

Conclusions. This representation provides a simple way to examine a patient's performance in a time effective manner.

Relevance

In clinical practice, the multi-axis representation of joint rotations can be used as an initial evaluation of a patient's performance to identify problems for further investigation.

Keywords:  Range of motion, Biomechanics, Hip and knee joints, Gait analysis, Joint rotation

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PII: S0268-0033(00)00069-3

Clinical Biomechanics
Volume 16, Issue 1 , Pages 84-86, January 2001

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